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Prayers

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"Pray without ceasing" ~1 Thess 5:17

Prayer is the center of family and spiritual life. Here's a collection of prayers that our family has found useful, beautiful, or both.

Essential Prayers

Prayers to St. Joseph



Essential Prayers

Our Father

The prayer Jesus taught us (Mt 9:6-13) is simply incredible in its simplicty and richness. It deserves to be the first prayer in any list.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary

Based on snippets of conversation in the first chapter of the Gosepl of Luke, this prayer is a simple, yet fascinating tribute to the wonder of Mary's role in salvation history and our own salvation—at the hour of our death.

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Glory Be

The Doxology is a beautiful reflection on the Blessed Trinity and a fitting prayer of praise in nearly every situation.

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning
is now, and ever shall be
world without end.
Amen.

Angel of God

A favorite of anyone who has a devotion to and relationship with their guardian angel. This isn't just a prayer for children. I, for one, will never outgrow my need and gratitude for the protection, guidance, and friendship of my guaridan angel.

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

The Apostles' Creed

A simple statement of the faith given to use by the apostles. This creed is used in many prayers, such as the Rosary.

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen (Salve, Regina)

This prayer is the capstone of the Rosary and a great reflection on the sorrows of Mary.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

Prayers to St. Joseph

Prayer Before Work

This prayer offers a thorough review of the purpose of work. Work is more than paying the bills. I have this printed out and taped to my monitor to pray before starting my work day.

This prayer is credited to Pope St. Pius X.

O Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor,

obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance for the expiation of my many sins;

to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations;

to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God;

to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, never shrinking from weariness and trials;

to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, keeping unceasingly before my eyes death and the account that I must give of time lost, talents unused, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God.

All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch, Saint Joseph. Such shall be my watch-word in life and in death.

Amen.

Prayer After Work

I couldn't find a prayer to end the work day, so I wrote this. The transition from work to evening with my family tends to be tricky. This prayer is written to help me let go of the work day and focus on the time ahead with my family.

This is patterned after the Prayer Before Work above.

O Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who end their daily labors to rejoin their families,

obtain for me the grace to entrust this day’s work to your care so I may focus on the time ahead.

As you set aside the tools of your trade to tend to the needs of the Holy Family, assist me in setting aside my labors so that I may give my undivided attention, energy, and devotion to the family God has entrusted to me.

Though I have toiled tirelessly through this day, renew my strength and reset my focus to the task at hand; imitating you as a noble, attentive, and loving husband and father.

All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch, Saint Joseph. Such shall be the watch-word in life and in death.

Amen

Protect Our Home

Our family gathers around our kitchen island before school this morning and prays this together. It's a great way to ask St. Joseph to bless and protect us as we go our seperate ways. The last line—asking that our days may be like the Holy Family's early days in Nazareth—is so striking. What family doesn't want to imitate that time shared by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph?

Saint Joseph, protect our home.
Pour forth from heaven blessings on our family.
Remain in our midst.
Help us to live in love and harmony, in peace and joy.

May the wholesome fear of God strengthen us that virtue may adorn what we do and our way may lead to heaven.

To you this day I give the key to our dwelling place.
Lock out all things that could do us harm.
Lock my home and my loved ones with me in the hearts of Jesus and Mary.
This I beg of you, that our days may be like your days in the holy home at Nazareth.
Amen.

Litany of St. Joseph

The Litany of St. Joseph is a fantastic tribute to the husband of Jesus and father figure for Jesus. St. Joseph is the model of workers, husbands, and fathers. He's a noble son of King David and the greatest of the patriarchs. He's the one man God entrusted to marry the Mother of God while respecting her perpetual virginity. He's the one man who Jesus could obey without sin (Lk 2:51).

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