Offering to Our Blessed Mother

 

O my Lady, O my Mother,

I give myself completely to you today.

Everything I have, and everything I am, I place into your loving hands.

I offer you my eyes, that they may notice goodness.

My ears, that they may listen with kindness.

My words, that they may bring comfort and peace.

My heart, that it may love Jesus more each day.

Dear Mother, I am your child. Please stay close to me today. Guide my thoughts. Guard my steps. Help me choose what is right, especially when it is difficult.

Teach me to be gentle, patient, thankful, and full of trust.

When I am afraid, remind me that you are beside me. When I grow discouraged, lead me back to your Son. When I forget to pray, quietly call me home again.

Since I belong to you, please keep me safe beneath your mantle. Watch over me, protect me, and never let me wander far from Jesus.

Help me live today in a way that brings Him joy.

And when this day is over, place me once more into His Sacred Heart.

Amen.  

Morning Prayer

O God, my God,

I seek You early this morning.

My soul longs for You,
and my heart thirsts for You.

In the quiet morning hours,
I lift my thoughts to You.

You alone are my help,
my strength,
and my comfort.

Be merciful to me,
and bless me throughout this day.

Help me in every duty that lies before me.

Keep me from carelessness.

Guard me from every sin,
and from everything that would separate me from You.

Let me remember Your goodness
and the many blessings You have given me.

Keep my heart faithful,
my words truthful,
and my actions pleasing in Your sight.

Grant that I may live this day
in peace with You,
in peace within myself,
and in charity toward all whom I meet.

May every thought,
every word,
and every deed
bring honor to Your holy Name.

Amen.

Source: The Little Handwritten Prayer Book, 1816 - pp. 1-10

Evening Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You from the bottom of my heart for bringing me safely through this day.

Please forgive me for every sin I have committed today through weakness, carelessness, or by my own fault.

Grant me a peaceful night’s rest. Send Your holy angels to stand watch around me, so that the evil enemy may have no power over me.

Keep me safe from every danger, from every temptation, from frightening dreams, and from every evil of body and soul.

Let me rest in Your holy peace. May my sleep refresh both my body and my soul.

If it is Your holy will, wake me again tomorrow morning so that I may praise You with a grateful heart.

For You alone are my God, my loving Father, my Savior, and my greatest treasure.

Into Your holy hands I commend my body, my soul, and my whole life.

May I always belong completely to You.

Amen.

Source: The Little Handwritten Prayer Book, 1816 - pp. 1-10

Prayer for God's Blessing in Time of Trouble

 

Dear God, my loving Father,

Please do not leave me alone in this time of trouble. You know my sorrow, and You know my heart.

Help me carry this cross with patience, humility, and trust.

Teach me to be patient like holy Job, faithful in prayer like Tobias, wise like Solomon, and truly sorry for my sins like David.

Bless the beginning of my life, every step along the way, and my final hour.

Keep me close to You all the days of my life.

And when my work on earth is finished, bring me safely to the joy of Heaven.

Amen.

Source: Adapted from a handwritten German Catholic prayer book (c. 1814–1816), pages 7–10, translated and lovingly rendered into modern English..

Morning Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity

 

Dear God…

Father… and Son… and Holy Ghost…
I love You… and I adore You…
with all my heart.

I believe in You… because You are Truth.
I trust in You… because You are so full of mercy.
And I love You most of all…
because You are so good.

Thank You for everything You have given me…
all the way up to this very moment.

I am sorry… truly sorry…
for all the times I have sinned…
and hurt You.

Please forgive me… dear Lord…
through the Precious Blood of Jesus.
I want to try very hard today…
never to offend You again…
no matter what it costs me.

Everything that happens today…
I will try to accept…
as coming from Your loving hand.

Let Your holy will be done in me.
All that I think…
all that I say…
all that I do…
and even the little things I go through…

I offer them to You…
because I love You.

I join everything to Jesus…
and offer it to You…
to thank You…
to make up for my sins…
to help the souls who have died…
and to help my friends…
and even those who may not love me.

Please help me do what is right today.
Keep me away from all evil.
Fill me with Your grace…
and never let me be far from You.

Jesus… Mary… and Joseph…
please take care of me…
and keep my soul and body safe.

My dear Guardian Angel…
stay close to me today…
teach me… guide me…
and help me when things are hard…
so I will not fall into sin.

All you saints in heaven…
and especially my dear Blessed Mother Mary…
please pray for me…
and keep me safe…
in both body and soul…
and lead me one day to heaven.

Dear God… please bless me…
and bless my family…
and all those I love…
and stay with us always.

Amen.

Source: Auserlesenes Gebethbüchlein (Selected Prayer Book - 1776), A3

To the Holy Guardian Angel

O holy Angel, you are my faithful guardian, appointed by God. Remain always at my side. Protect me from every danger, guard my soul, and keep me from every evil.

Lead me according to the holy will of God, that I may never offend Him, but may love Him with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength, and serve Him faithfully all the days of my life.

May all the holy Angels and all the Saints of God intercede for me, that Almighty God may be gracious to me, through the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Amen. 

 

The Little Handwritten Prayer, 1816 - p.11

Into Mary's Motherly Care

O most holy Virgin,
Mother of God,
Mary, exalted in the glory of Heaven,

I come before you with all humility, placing my body, my soul, my life, and all that belongs to me into your motherly care.

Grant that, through your most holy intercession, all my thoughts, my words, and my deeds may always be directed according to the holy will of God.

Amen.

The Little Handwritten Prayer Book, 1816 - p.10

Great Love

 

O Lord,

I beseech You, through the deep and holy love of Your faithful Heart, through Your sacred wounds, and through all that You suffered for my salvation, draw me ever more closely to Yourself.

Do not allow anything in this world to separate me from Your divine love. Let my heart remain faithful to You in all things, and teach me to love You above every earthly treasure.

When I am weak, be my strength. When I am tempted, be my safeguard. When I am burdened with sorrow, be my comfort and my peace.

Grant that I may never forget Your goodness or become cold in Your service, but that I may persevere faithfully until the end of my life.

And when my last hour comes, receive my soul with mercy into Your everlasting kingdom, where I may praise and love You forever in the company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angels, and all the saints.

For You alone are my hope, my refuge, my consolation, my joy, and my eternal happiness.

Amen.

The Little Handwritten Prayer Book, 1816

A Prayer for Childlike Trust

O most merciful Lord God,

Grant me the grace to become like a little child, simple and sincere before You.

Take from me all pride, self-will, and every attachment that would keep my heart from You.

Teach me to receive everything from Your fatherly hand with quiet gratitude, whether You send me joy or sorrow, comfort or trial.

For I know that whatever You permit comes from Your wisdom and from Your loving care, and is meant for the good of my soul.

Give me a faithful heart, content with whatever pleases You, never murmuring, never complaining, but always trusting that You know what is best for me.

Help me to walk in simplicity, humility, and holy obedience, following Your holy will all the days of my life.

May I gladly accept both the pleasant and the difficult things You appoint for me, remembering that Your fatherly love never fails.

Let my greatest joy be to belong entirely to You, to seek Your honor above all else, and to remain faithful until my life’s end.

Through the merits of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, and of all Your holy saints, hear my prayer, and graciously grant me this favor.

Amen.

Source: The Little Handwritten Prayer Book, 1816 - pp. 3-5

Evening Prayer - Dear Heavenly Father

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You from the bottom of my heart for bringing me safely through this day.

Please forgive me for every sin I have committed today through weakness, carelessness, or by my own fault.

Grant me a peaceful night’s rest. Send Your holy angels to stand watch around me, so that the evil enemy may have no power over me.

Keep me safe from every danger, from every temptation, from frightening dreams, and from every evil of body and soul.

Let me rest in Your holy peace. May my sleep refresh both my body and my soul.

If it is Your holy will, wake me again tomorrow morning so that I may praise You with a grateful heart.

For You alone are my God, my loving Father, my Savior, and my greatest treasure.

Into Your holy hands I commend my body, my soul, and my whole life.

May I always belong completely to You.

Amen.

Source: The Little Handwritten Prayer Book, 1816 - pp. 1-10

Morning Prayer - O God My God

O God, my God,

I seek You early this morning.

My soul longs for You,
and my heart thirsts for You.

In the quiet morning hours,
I lift my thoughts to You.

You alone are my help,
my strength,
and my comfort.

Be merciful to me,
and bless me throughout this day.

Help me in every duty that lies before me.

Keep me from carelessness.

Guard me from every sin,
and from everything that would separate me from You.

Let me remember Your goodness
and the many blessings You have given me.

Keep my heart faithful,
my words truthful,
and my actions pleasing in Your sight.

Grant that I may live this day
in peace with You,
in peace within myself,
and in charity toward all whom I meet.

May every thought,
every word,
and every deed
bring honor to Your holy Name.

Amen.

Source: The Little Handwritten Prayer Book, 1816 - pp. 1-10