p. 51Various Prayers for the Use of Parents

Prayer of Parents for Themselves

O God of infinite wisdom and goodness, vouchsafe to bestow on us the graces which we need for the faithful performance of our numerous duties towards our children. Grant us the necessary light to know these obligations, the requisite fortitude to discharge them with a firmness tempered with a loving kindness, and the indispensable prudence and tact to make use of the most suitable means to bring up our children in Thy holy fear and love, and in the observance of Thy commandments. Deign, O Lord, to enable us also to provide plentifully for all their temporal wants, and so direct us through life that we and our children may one day all meet in heaven to praise and love Thee for ever and ever. O Mary, our dearest Mother, deign to obtain for us all these graces through thy all-powerful intercession. Amen.

Prayer for the Young Children

O most holy Child Jesus, deign to bless and protect our little ones. Watch over their innocence, fill their young hearts with Thy holy love, and preserve them from every evil influence. Remove far from them all danger of soul and body, and grant that they may imitate the virtues of Thy holy childhood, and grow up in age, virtue, and piety, so that they may afterwards be able to lead a truly Christian life. Rather take them out of this world in their innocence and purity than suffer that they should ever stray away from the path of Thy divine commandments. O Mary, our good and loving Mother, be pleased to bless our little children, and to be always a true mother to them.

Prayer for the Children Who Have Not Yet Made Their First Communion

O Virgin Mary, sweet Mother and protectress of the young, deign to watch in a special manner over those of our children who are still too young to make their first holy communion, and yet are old enough to be liable to offend God by sin. p. 52Remove from them all evil occasions and all dangerous companions. Do not allow their innocence to suffer shipwreck through evil conversations, and, if they have the misfortune of falling into sin, O deign to obtain for them the grace to make a good confession, and ever after to avoid sin and its occasions. Amen.

Prayer for the Child Who Is About to Make Its First Holy Communion

Our divine Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, deign to pour forth Thy grace plentifully into the heart of our son [daughter] who is soon to receive Thy sacred Body and Thy precious Blood for the first time, and to grant that his [her] first holy communion may give Thee glory and be useful to his [her] spiritual welfare. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to preserve our dear child from the terrible misfortune and heinous crime of an unworthy communion. Grant him [her] the grace to make a sincere and sorrowful confession. Inflame him [her] with Thy holy love and with an ardent desire to receive Thee, so that he [she] may approach Thee for the first time with a pure and loving heart, and that his [her] first holy communion may be to him [her] the pledge of eternal life. O dearest Mother Mary, help our son [daughter] to receive worthily thy divine Son, Jesus, not only for the first time, but every time he [she] receives holy communion. Amen.

Prayer for the Child About to Be Confirmed

Deign, O Holy Ghost, to descend with the abundance of Thy gifts into the soul of our son [daughter], who is about to receive the sacrament which is to make him [her] a perfect Christian. So enlighten, strengthen, and direct his [her] soul, that he [she] may be until death a true disciple of Jesus Christ, conquering the world, the devil, human respect, and his [her] evil inclinations. O Mary, our dearest Mother, deign to help our son [daughter] to receive the sacrament of confirmation with holy dispositions. Amen.

Prayer to Know the Vocation of One’s Children

O God of infinite wisdom, who hast from all eternity designated the p. 53state of life in which every man is to walk in order to reach heaven, do not suffer any of our children to choose a vocation other than that which Thou Thyself hast destined for them. Mercifully vouchsafe to enlighten us and our children, that we may clearly know Thy holy will concerning them; grant to them the grace faithfully to follow it, whatever it may be, for Thy greater glory and for their and our salvation. O our own most loving Mother Mary, be pleased to assist us in discerning and carrying out the designs of divine Providence over our children. Amen.

Prayer for the Child Having an Ecclesiastical or a Religious Vocation

O God of infinite wisdom and bounty, we most humbly thank Thee for the grace and honor which Thou hast bestowed on our little family in calling to Thy service one of our children. It is with willing and grateful hearts that we offer Thee the sacrifice which Thou requirest of us. Deign to bestow abundant blessings, both spiritual and temporal, on us all for our cheerful compliance with Thy holy will. Grant that our son [daughter] may sanctify himself [herself] and persevere in his [her] holy vocation, and that we all may be reunited one day together in heaven to praise and bless Thee for ever and ever. Amen.

O Mary, Mother of perpetual help and our most loving Mother, we place our son [daughter] under thy special protection; obtain for him [her] the grace to become a saint and to lead many souls to heaven. Amen.

Prayer for the Son [Daughter] About to Be Married

O glorious patriarch St. Joseph, foster-father of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and chaste spouse of the ever Virgin Mary, model and patron of truly holy unions, deign to take under thy special protection our son [daughter] who is about to enter the responsible state of matrimony. Obtain for him [her] the grace to receive this sacrament worthily and out of truly Christian motives. Secure for him [her], by thy powerful intercession, all the blessings necessary to enable him [her] to discharge faithfully the onerous duties of that state, and to bear the trials inseparable from it with true Christian fortitude, so that he [she] may save his [her] soul therein. Amen.

Prayer for a Wayward Child

O Mary, the Mother of mercy and the Refuge of sinners, cast a look of compassion on our son [daughter] who has strayed away from the path of duty and is living in enmity with God. Do not allow him [her] to perish, but deign to obtain for him [her] the grace of a sincere and lasting conversion, for thou art the Queen of mercy and the Refuge of sinners, and art, moreover, all-powerful with thy divine Son, Who cannot refuse thy prayers. p. 54Be a compassionate mother to our son [daughter], and bring him [her] from the road of perdition to the way of salvation. Amen.

Prayer for a Sick Child

O most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of sorrows, deign to succor our son [daughter] who is a prey to disease and infirmity. If it is conformable to God’s holy will, be pleased to obtain his [her] speedy and perfect recovery, and the grace always to love and serve God faithfully. But if health were to prove dangerous for his [her] salvation, obtain for him [her] patience and resignation in suffering, the grace to turn bodily pain into spiritual profit, and, if this sickness is to terminate fatally, secure for him [her] the consolation of receiving the last sacraments with holy dispositions, and for us the grace of perfect conformity with the divine will. Amen.

Prayer for a Deceased Child (Over Seven Years of Age)

Eternal rest give unto him [her], O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him [her]. May he [she] rest in peace. Amen.

O Mary, Mother of sorrows, we beseech thee by the inexpressible grief which thou didst endure in beholding thy divine Son, whom thou didst love with a love greater than any other created love, to deign to have pity on us and to obtain for us perfect resignation to the adorable will of God, and for our dear departed one the consolation of a speedy release from pain and of being soon in possession of heavenly bliss. May we, under thy protection, O Mother of perpetual help, have the happiness of being one day reunited in heaven with our son [daughter], there to praise and love God and thee for all eternity. Amen.

Prayer in Adversity

O God of infinite goodness and bounty, who chastisest us only for our own welfare, to enable us to atone to Thy divine justice for our manifold and oft-repeated shortcomings, vouchsafe to succor us in our trials and misfortunes. May they be the means of detaching us from the world and its vain goods and fleeting pleasures, of bringing us nearer to Thee and of enriching us with merit for eternity. And, if it be not injurious to our spiritual welfare, deign, O Lord, to lighten and p. 55sweeten our crosses and trials, and to bestow on us for our children’s sake such temporal blessings as will not interfere with our salvation. O Mary, Mother of perpetual help, obtain for us perfect conformity with the divine will, and if it so please God, also a certain amount of temporal prosperity. Amen.

Dedication of the Family to the Holy Family

O Jesus, our most amiable Redeemer, who didst condescend to come down from heaven, not only to redeem and save us, but also to be our model by Thy example, Thou didst deign to spend the greater part of Thy life in obscurity at Nazareth, where Thou wast subject to Mary and Joseph, thus sanctifying the Christian family and becoming the model thereof. We now consecrate ourselves wholly to Thee. Vouchsafe to accept this our consecration, and to protect us and maintain us all through life in Thy holy fear and love, and in mutual concord and charity, so that we may ever be on earth one in heart and soul, and obtain eternal glory in heaven.

O Mary, the most beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, and our own most loving Mother, deign, by thy compassionate mercy and love, to obtain from Jesus, thy Son, a ready acceptance of our consecration and all the graces we need to become a truly Christian family.

O dear St. Joseph, holy and faithful protector of Jesus and Mary, help us, by thy powerful influence with them, in all our corporal and spiritual wants, and especially at the hour of our death, so that we may one day all be united in heaven with thee to praise and love Jesus and Mary for ever and ever. Amen.

Dedication of One’s Self to the Blessed Virgin Mary

By St. Alphonsus

O most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, I, __________, although most unworthy of being thy servant, yet, moved by thy wonderful compassion for poor sinners and by my desire to serve thee, I now choose thee, in presence of my guardian angel and of the whole heavenly court, for my own Lady, Advocate, and Mother; and I firmly purpose always to love and serve thee for the future, and to do all in my power to induce others also to love and serve thee. I beseech thee, O p. 56Mother of God and my most compassionate and loving Mother, by the blood which thy Son shed for me, to receive me among the number of thy servants, that I may be forever thy loving child and devoted servant. Assist me in all my thoughts, words, and actions at every moment of my life, so that my every step and my every breath may be directed to the greater glory of God, and, with the aid of thy most powerful intercession, that I may never more offend my beloved Jesus, but may glorify Him and love Him in this life, and love thee also, my most beloved and dear Mother; and may I thus obtain the grace to love thee and enjoy with thee the happiness of heaven for all eternity. Amen.

My own dear Mother Mary, I recommend my soul to thy care now, and especially at the hour of my death. Amen.

Dedication of a Family to the Blessed Virgin Mary

By St. Alphonsus

O most blessed Virgin, immaculate Queen, and our Mother Mary, the refuge and consolation of all the wretched, prostrate before thee with my whole family, I choose thee for our Lady, our Mother, and our advocate with God. I dedicate myself and all mine forever to thy service, and I beseech thee, O Mother of God, to receive us among the number of thy servants by taking us all under thy protection, and by extending to us thy help in life, but more especially at the hour of our death. O Mother of mercy, I choose thee as the lady and ruler of my whole house, of my children, of all who are dear to me, of my interests, and of all that concerns me. Disdain not to take charge of them all and to dispose of them as it may please thee. Deign to bestow thy blessing on me and on my whole family, and do not suffer that any of us should ever grievously offend thy divine Son. Do thou defend us in temptations; do thou deliver us from dangers, both spiritual and corporal; do thou provide for us in all our wants; do thou counsel us in doubt and comfort us in our trials; do thou assist us in our infirmities and sufferings, but especially in the sorrows of death. Never allow the devil to glory in having in his power any of us who are now consecrated to thee; but obtain for us by thy all-powerful intercession the grace that we may all go to heaven to thank thee, and together with thee to praise and love Jesus our Redeemer for all eternity. Amen. Thus may it be.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin to Be Recited by the Parents and Their Children at the End of Night Prayers

By St. Alphonsus

Most holy immaculate Virgin and my Mother Mary, to thee, who art the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the world, the advocate, the hope, and the refuge of sinners, I, who am the most miserable of all, render thee my most humble homage, O great Queen, and I thank thee for all the graces which thou hast conferred on me until now, p. 57particularly for having delivered me from hell, which I have so often deserved. I love thee, O most amiable Lady, and for the love which I bear thee I promise to serve thee always and to do all in my power to make others love thee also. I place in thee, next to Jesus, all my hopes; I confide my salvation to thy care. Accept me for thy servant and receive me under thy mantle, O Mother of mercy. And since thou art so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations, or rather obtain for me the strength to triumph over them until death. Of thee I ask a perfect love for Jesus Christ. Through thee I hope to die a good death. O my Mother, by the love which thou bearest to God, I beseech thee to help me at all times, but especially at the last moment of my life. Leave me not, I beseech thee, until thou seest me safe in heaven, blessing thee and singing thy mercies through all eternity. Amen. So I hope. So may it be.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary to Obtain a Good Death

By St. Alphonsus

O Mary, sweet refuge of sinners and my own loving Mother, I beseech thee by the grief which thou didst experience in being present at the death of thy divine Son on the cross to assist me with thy mercy when my soul must depart from this world. Banish then from me the infernal enemies; come then to take my soul and to present it as the soul of thy own child to the Eternal Judge. O my Queen, do not then forsake me, for it is thou who, after Jesus, must be my help at that dreadful moment on which my eternity depends. Beseech thy divine Son to grant me in His goodness the grace to die under thy protection, and to breathe forth my soul into His sacred wounds whilst repeating: Jesus and Mary, I give you my heart and soul. Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph to Obtain a Good Death

By St. Alphonsus

O great St. Joseph, my holy protector, who hadst the inestimable favor of dying in the arms of Jesus and Mary! Thou hadst a just claim to so holy a death, because thy whole life was holy. As for me, I justly deserve an unhappy death p. 58on account of my numerous sins. But, O dear St. Joseph, if thou dost protect me I shall not be lost. Thou hast been not only a great friend of Him who is to be my Judge, but thou hast also been His guardian and protector, His foster-father. If thou wilt recommend me to Jesus He will show me mercy. I choose thee, after Mary, for my principal advocate and protector. I promise to honor thee every day by some special devotion and by placing myself under thy care. I am unworthy of being thy servant; but, through the love which thou bearest to Jesus and Mary, deign to accept me as thy perpetual servant. Through the sweet company of Jesus and Mary, which thou didst enjoy during life, protect me during my whole life, that I may never be separated from God by committing a grievous sin. And, through the assistance which Jesus and Mary gave thee at death, deign to protect me at the hour of my death, that, dying in the company of thee, of Jesus and of Mary, I may go to thank thee in paradise, and in thy company praise and love God for all eternity. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul with you in peace.

One hundred days’ indulgence for each invocation.

Prayer to Obtain Final Perseverance

By St. Alphonsus

O sovereign and eternal God, I thank Thee for having created me; for having redeemed me by means of the passion and death of Thy Son and my Lord Jesus Christ; for having made me a Christian by calling me to the true faith, and for giving me time to repent after the many sins I have committed. O infinite Goodness, I love Thee above all things, and I repent with all my heart of all my offences against Thee. I hope that Thou hast already pardoned me; but I am still in constant danger of again offending Thee. For the love of Jesus Christ, I beseech Thee to grant me holy perseverance until death. Thou knowest my weakness and inconstancy; help me, then, and permit not that I should ever again separate myself from Thee by relapsing into sin. Rather let me die a thousand times than ever again to lose Thy grace. O Mary, my own dear Mother, obtain for me holy perseverance. Amen.