Daily Prayers

Memorare to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Prayers of the Heart

Daily Prayer of Fr Chevalier

Lord Jesus,
Saviour of the world
and source of holiness,
look with kindness
on all whom you have chosen
to be Missionaries of your loving Heart.
Ask your heavenly Father
to keep us in your love,
and sanctify us in the truth
so that you may be glorified in us
and we may reflect your goodness.
Ask your Father to keep us from evil
that we may always be united in bonds of love.
As you are one with your Father,
so may we be one with each other
in your divine heart,
whose sentiments shall forever be ours
and to which we consecrate ourselves
in time and for eternity.
Amen.

Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart

Prayer for a new world

Based on a phrase of Fr Chevalier

Lord Jesus, gift of the Father,
a new world emerged from
your wounded heart,
a new creation of love and mercy
in the Holy Spirit
and the power of the resurrection.
Make this new world present in our time
through the Church, your Body.
Consecrate us in your own self-offering;
renew us in your love;
keep us among our brothers and sisters
as people who serve;
complete in us what is still lacking
in your suffering
so that it can extend to all the world;
make your life, your love, your tenderness
spring up in the desert of our hearts.
Then our brothers and sisters will
draw from the wellsprings of your Heart
joy and life in abundance.
Until that day when we shall all
be signed by the Spirit with your seal,
for the glory of the Father
and the triumph of the Lamb:
a new heaven and a new earth.
Amen, marana tha!

Prayer for Vocations

Loving God,
help all your people to know their vocation in life,
and assist them to prepare for it.
For your greater glory
and for the service of your people,
call many to be priests and religious.
May we, the Missionaries of Heart of Jesus your Son,
Be blessed abundantly with men and women
chosen to share our mission of love.
Mary, mother of the Church
show your love for all people;
encourage many vocations
to priesthood and religious life.
 Amen.

MSC Hymn

Jesus our Lord,
We praise you and the love in your heart.
We honour you, we glorify you;
we are grateful for your help today.
We offer our thanks,
We consecrate and give our hearts to you.
Take them, hold them fast
and make them your own forever.
Fill them with your Spirit, your Father’s gift to us.
Stay with us throughout our life, Lord Jesus.
Let us follow all the ways you mark for us.
Heart of Christ, may your love be known forever.
Amen.

V.    May all people see the goodness of God.
R.    In his wonderful dealings with them.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus with renewed kindness you enrich your
Church with the boundless gifts of your heart.
Help us to respond to such love,
to serve you truly in our lives, and in that measure
to make good the offences of our human family.
Amen.

Litany of the Sacred Heart

Prayer to St Joseph

Joseph, God chose you,
His faithful and just servant,
to be united in love with Jesus and Mary.
 As you served Jesus,
pray that we may serve him in all people.
May we who honour you as our patron and protector,
remain true to our mission,
May God grant us, through your prayer
the acceptance, love and service
with which you responded
when the Father chose you
to care for Jesus, his Son,
who is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.

A PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Come, Holy Spirit.
Replace the anxiety within us with holy relaxation.
Replace the turbulence within us with sacred calm.
Replace the doubt within us with quiet confidence.
Replace the fear within us with strong faith.
Replace the bitterness within us with the sweetness of grace.
Replace the darkness within us with gentle light.
Replace the coldness within us with loving warmth.
Replace the night within us with the day.
Replace the Winter within us with your Spring.

"Our Lord Jesus Christ has opened his heart to the world
In order to bring an effective remedy to modern societies
that are rushing into the abyss.
And we are those whom he has sent
to apply this remedy to the world"
(Fr. Jules Chevalier, Founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart)

Our Lady's Magnificat

- Her Prayer of Gratitude and Trust
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my savior;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age
for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm,
he has routed the proud of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and
exalted the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things,
the rich sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant,
mindful of his mercy
- according to the promise he made to our ancestors -
of his mercy to Abraham and his descendents for ever".
(Luke 1:46-55)

Prayer for a Sick Person

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son into our world to bring healing and hope to those who are suffering and in pain. He brought healing and relief to the suffering and diseased people he met whilst here on earth. Turn your kindness towards N...... who is ill and free him/her from all illness and restore him/her to health if it be for his/her good and the glory of your name. We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

When in Pain

Lord Jesus, you have experienced pain.
Be with me when I feel alone and depressed.
Be with me in my times of illness and pain.
Give me strength in my moments of darkness.
Help me to experience the resurrection each day.
Give me assurance of your personal love for me.
Help me recognize the people you send into my
life as your presence.

Terminal Illness

Lord you have made me for yourself
and my heart is restless until it rests in you.
I await my final call in patience and hope.

Life

Lord, you are the Light, help me to see.
You are the Way, help me to follow.
You are the Truth, help me to witness.
You are the Life, help me to share.

Prayer to Christ the Healer

In the comfort of your love,
I pour out to you, my Savior,
the memories that haunt me,
the fears that stifle me,
the anxieties that perplex me,
the sickness that weighs upon me,
the frustration of all the pain
that afflicts me.
Lord, help me to see
your peace in my turmoil,
your compassion in my sorrow,
your forgiveness in my weakness,
and your love in my need.
Touch me, Lord, with your healing power
and strength. Amen

A Future Full of Hope

Sometimes on a bad day it is good to focus on these wise words of comfort from Pope John XX111:
"Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern not yourself with what you tried and failed in, but what is still possible to do. Now is the time to put aside past and present setbacks and failures and look with confidence to the new day called tomorrow".

Prayer for Peace in the World

Lord Jesus Christ, ‘Peace be with you' was the salutation with which you greeted your disciples when you appeared to them after your resurrection. We come to you seeking this peace for ourselves and our world. Open people's hearts to the joy and peace of your Kingdom so that they may bring this peace and joy to their homes, their communities and their countries.

The Journey of Life

Sacred Heart of Jesus, as we journey through life we face the mysteries of love and hate, of friendship and loneliness, of joy and sorrow, of suffering and death.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, help us believe in the midst of doubt and uncertainty. Help us to hope in the midst of despair, suffering and death. Help us to love in the midst of hate, selfishness and rejection.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, be with us as we pray.

Prayers of Young People

Lord, be with me as I struggle to make my way through the trials and difficulties of the present time.
Give me strength and courage to make the right decisions, to set my mind on what is good and true. Moderate my impulsiveness with self-control, my exuberance with a patient spirit and my thoughts with mature reflection.
Help me to be true to my faith, loyal to my family and firm in my friendships. Be with me at school, in my work and in my recreation. Comfort me in my sorrows, sustain me in times of anxiety and be present to me in my joys. Help me to realize the truth of your Word, the constancy of your love and the generosity of your Spirit. Amen.

Prayer for Families in Difficulty

Lord my God, help us at this special time of need. This is a time, Lord, when we have no one to turn to but You. We need to feel your presence with us now. Make us aware of your unfaltering love for each one of us. If our difficulty is not resolved, give us the strength to bear whatever comes.

Lord, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Prayer of a Married Couple

O Lord our God, we come before you to renew the vows we made on our wedding day. We promised to love, to cherish and to be true to each other, in sickness and in health, all the days of our lives. Every day we live let us remind ourselves of that promise. Every day we live let us try to love ourselves as fully and unconditionally as you love us. We believe that when you look at us, you see our faults and failings, our selfishness, our indifference, our stubbornness, and you still love us. You love us just as we are, with all our flaws and imperfections. Teach us, Lord, to love as you do. Be with us, Lord, every day we live so that in loving you, we may come to love each other more richly, more deeply, more sincerely, every day that passes.

Prayer For A Sick Child

Divine Savior,
you who showed such loving tenderness
towards children and restored to health
the little daughter of Jairus and the son
of the widow of Naim,
graciously look down upon us now.

We implore you, through the
intercession of your own Mother and
St. Joseph, to restore our child to
health if such be the will of God.

Whatever be the Father's will,
may our child serve that purpose for
which he/she was created.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, pray for us.

Prayer for Those who Live Alone

I live alone dear Lord, stay by my side
in all my daily needs to be my guide.
Grant me good health, for that indeed I pray,
to carry on my work from day to day.

Keep pure my mind, my thoughts, my every deed,
Let me be kind, unselfish in my neighbor's need.
Spare me from fire, from flood, malicious tongues
from thieves, from fear, from evil ones.

If sickness or an accident befall,
Then humbly Lord, I pray, hear my call.
And when I am feeling low, or in despair,
Lift up my heart and help me in my prayer.

I live alone, dear Lord, yet have no fear
Because I feel your presence ever near.

Sacred Heart, protect me.

Prayer of Trust in God

O Lord, our God,
we know that when you are there
to guide and direct us, there is no
need for us to be worried or upset.
For when you are with us there is
nothing that we can't do with your help.

We know that this is true, Lord,
and we believe it firmly.
But when things go wrong
when we find ourselves in some difficulty,
we can forget that you are with us,
that your presence will sustain and comfort
us in our darkness and difficulties
and we get discouraged and afraid.
Help us, Lord,
to face the trials of life with patience,
resignation and an attitude of openness and trust.

When we remind ourselves that you are with us
to support us, to comfort us and to help us out
then we will be encouraged and strengthened.
Give each one of us the courage we need to face
the future. Help us to live through the difficult
periods of our lives with trust in your goodness,
mercy and love.

Prayer of St. Therese of Lisieux

"Today there will be peace within.
May you trust God that you are
where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you
have received, and pass on the love
that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing that
you are a child of God. Let this
presence settled into your bones
and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, praise and love.
It is there for each one of us."

Prayer for Parents

Lord, bless our parents. Reward them for all they have done for us.
It was their instruction and example that prepared us to accept your call.
Help them, and us, to fully appreciate the gift of our vocation.
Assist them by your grace in whatever difficulties life may bring.
May we always remember our debt of gratitude and our responsibility toward them.
Amen.

On Humility

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things......
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.....
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men and women.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.....
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things....

I got nothing that I asked for - but everything I hoped for,
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all, most richly blessed.....
(John Henry Newman)

Prayer of Trust and Confidence

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
(Thomas Merton)

Late Have I Loved You

"Late have I loved You O beauty ever ancient, ever new.
Late have I loved You and behold You were within; and I without,
and without I sought You.
And deformed I ran after these forms of beauty You have made.
You were with me and I was not with You.
Those things held me back from You, things whose only being was to be in You.
You called; You cried; and You broke through my deafness.
You flashed; You shone; and You chased away my blindness.
You became fragrant; and I inhaled and sighed for You.
I tasted and now hunger and thirst for You.
You touched me; and I burn for Your embrace."
(St. Augustine)

Prayer of One in Senior Years

My God, my Guide, my Master and my Companion,
You stayed close beside me through more years than I care to count.
Through summers of joy and winters of discontent,
through springtime's of promise
and autumns of depression,
you have never left my side.
When I have fallen, you have picked me up.
When I recklessly walked to the edge of ruin,
you were there to hold me back.
Even when I screamed in protest and rebelled in
disobedience, your chastisement was gentle,
and your love was constant.
Now it is getting late, O God,
and sometimes I feel resentful.
Forgive me for looking back dear Lord,
except to glory in your presence and your care
throughout these perilous years.
I seek not to be younger in years but to be young and
ever vital in spirit.
Grant, my God, that your eternal Spirit may replenish
the dry wells of my life, that even though my bones may ache
and my activities diminish, my life may be a spring
of living water to my brothers and sisters about me.
I ask it in the Savior's name. Amen.
(Leslie F. Brandt)

Prayers before Examinations

Lord, as I am about to sit for my examinations I ask you to send your Holy Spirit to guide me in my preparation and study. Help me to let go of anxiety and panic and to remain calm and confident. Help me to do my best and to leave the rest in your hands. Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for me.

Jesus,
teacher and friend,
be with me now as I sit this exam.
Give me a peaceful heart,
a focused mind
and a steady hand.
Help me to remember what I have learned,
to answer wisely and well,
and persevere when I am tired and weary. Amen.

For Those Away

Lord, I pray for those away - at work, at school, at play.
I miss their presence and I worry about their safety.
Be with them in the time they will spend away from home and protect them.
O Mary, our mother, wrap the mantle of your love around them. Amen.

Prayer for the Beatification of Fr. Jules Chevalier, M.S.C.

God our Father,
you so loved the world that you gave us Jesus, your Son,
to bring salvation to all people.
We thank you for Jules Chevalier whom you gave to your Church.
He found in the Sacred Heart an effective remedy for the ills of his time.

With Mary who stood at the foot of the Cross
he contemplated the "one who was pierced."
He became the apostle of Christ's merciful love,
whose Heart he wished to make known and loved
throughout the whole world.

Father, we ask that Jules Chevalier may be recognized in your Church today
as an intercessor close to your own Heart.
May we also, inspired by his example and prayer,
become apostles of the Heart of your Son,
so that your Kingdom of justice, love and peace may be established everywhere,
and that the Heart of your Son may be the heart of a new world, Amen.

Individual Vocation Prayer

Dear God,
I often wonder what my life will become and how I can best use
the gifts and talents You have so lovingly given me. 
I am sometimes puzzled and scared by all the choices I will have to make. 
What do You want of me, God? 
How shall I serve Your people? 
What are You calling me to do and to be? 
Help me to listen to Your voice within me. 
Give me the courage to make choices that will benefit others
– and not just myself.

Help me to be a positive influence on others,
someone who reflects Your light and glory,
someone who offers Your love and compassion. 
Enlighten me, dear God, as I ponder these things.

Walk with me please, and keep Your guiding hand on me as I try to do Your Holy Will. Amen.