PRAYER
✥ INTENTIONS
Prayers of the Week
Friday, February 21 – A Night Prayer
Eternal Father, I desire to rest in Thy Heart this night. I make the intention of offering to Thee every beat of my heart, joining to them as many acts of love and desire. I pray that even while I am asleep, I will bring back to Thee souls that offend Thee. I ask forgiveness for the whole world, especially for those who know Thee and yet sin. I offer to Thee my every breath and heartbeat as a prayer of reparation. Amen.
Saturday, February 22 – For the Family
Great protector of the family, St. Gerard, we ask your prayers for all parents, that they may receive the grace to live in the love of God and bring up their children to know and love him with all their hearts. God, our loving Father, your love gives life to the world. Bless and make holy all human love, especially the life-giving love of husband and wife. May your love fill the hearts and homes of all families, so that the world may enjoy the peace and happiness promised by your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday, February 23 – Family Blessing at Bedtime
Heavenly Father, Bless (name) and keep him (her) in Your love. Grant him (her) a good rest tonight, And send Your angels to protect him (her). In the Name of the Father, And the + Son, And of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Monday, February 24 – Prayer for Courage
Dear God, give me courage, for perhaps I lack it more than anything else. I need courage before men against their threats and against their seductions. I need courage to bear unkindness, mockery, contradiction. I need courage to fight against the devil, against terrors and troubles, temptations, attractions, darkness and false lights, against tears, depression, and above all fear. I need Your help, dear God. Strengthen me with Your love and Your grace. Console me with Your blessed Presence and grant me the courage to persevere until I am with You forever in heaven.
Tuesday, February 25 – Prayer for God’s Guidance
Father in Heaven, You made me Your child and called me to walk in the Light of Christ. Free me from darkness and keep me in the Light of Your Truth. The Light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin. Called to that Light, I ask for Your guidance. Form my life in Your Truth, my heart in Your Love. Through the Holy Eucharist, give me the power of Your Grace that I may walk in the Light of Jesus and serve Him faithfully.
Wednesday, February 26 – Grace before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive from your bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thursday, February 27 – Lenten Prayer
Almighty and Everlasting God, You have given the human race Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility. He fulfilled Your Will by becoming Man and giving His life on the Cross. Help us to bear witness to You by following His example of suffering and make us worthy to share in His Resurrection. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen. Our Father…MARY, Mother of Jesus, you were Jesus’ gift for us from the Cross. He gave you to us as our mother. Intercede for all our needs. Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Friday, February 28 – Fatima Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be they good or bad: for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Saturday, March 1 – Grace before Meals #3
Father of us all, This meal is a sign of Your love for us: Bless us and bless our food, And help us to give you glory each day Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
INTENTIONS OF POPE FRANCIS ~ FEBRUARY 2025
Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
World Day of the Sick: February 11, 2025
Pope Francis’ message for the 2025 World Day of the Sick is “Heal relationships to heal the ill”. The message emphasizes that caring for the sick means caring for their relationships with God, family, friends, healthcare workers, and creation.
Prayer for the Sick:
God of hope and healing,
Be with those whose bodies burn with fever,
rage with pain, struggle for breath,
cry out for limbs that used to be,
or crave addictive substances.
Be with those whose minds and emotions
face the wait of a diagnosis,
wrestle with the choices for treatment,
adapt to a life altered by chronic illness,
recover from abuse,
or push against the encroaching clouds of dementia.
Be with those whose spirits are exhausted by the quest for health,
doubt the existence of love,
question the fairness of life,
or stare into the face of death.
Cool the fever, bring balm to the pain, ease the fight for air,
adapt the body for new ways to move, and calm the cravings.
Ease anxiety and fear.
Build trust in your everlasting love and care.
God of all, hear our prayer.
Amen
Prayer for the Caregiver:
God of comfort and strength,
Be with those whose backs ache with the weight of lifting,
whose hands are raw from the constant washing,
whose eyes close frequently from lack of sleep,
and whose bodies feel broken and weary.
Be with those whose anxiety cannot face one more “what if,”
whose thoughts do not dare go beyond the next moment,
whose tears have flowed until there are no more,
whose patience has worn too thin,
and whose mind and emotions have become fragile.
Be with those whose spirits are exhausted
by the demands of caring for the sick,
doubt the existence of love,
question the fairness of life,
or stare into the reality of losing a loved one to death.
Sooth the body and ease the pain.
Calm the anxiety and fear.
Build trust in your everlasting presence and love.
God of all, hear our prayer.
Amen
February Month of the HOLY FAMILY
The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ’s public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.
The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother’s arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice. February 21, Shrove Tuesday, will find us preparing for Ash Wednesday. The middle of the month will find us on Ash Wednesday accepting the ashes that remind us of our mortality and our need for penance.
“The Light of Revelation” shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday (February 22) and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son.
Month of the Holy Name of Jesus
The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. “In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:10). Christ’s name is chosen in heaven, and the Angel Gabriel announces it when he informs the Blessed Virgin of the incarnation: “Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus”.
Prayer:
Eternal Father, who didst give to thine incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we beseech thee, the love of him who is the Saviour of the world, even our Lord Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.