A Prayer to Obtain the Grace of a Devout Life by Sancte Thomas Aquinas

A Prayer to Obtain the Grace of A Devout Life

Grant me, O merciful God, to desire eagerly, to investigate prudently, to acknowledge sincerely, and to fulfil perfectly those things that are pleasing to Thee, to the praise and glory of Thy holy Name.

Do Thou, my God, order my life; and grant that I may know what Thou wilt have me to do; and give me to fulfil it as is fitting and profitable to my soul.

Grant me, O Lord, my God, the grace not to faint either in prosperity or adversity, that I be not unduly lifted up by the one, nor unduly cast down by the other. Let me neither rejoice nor grieve at anything, save what either leads to Thee or leads away from Thee. Let me not desire to please anyone, nor fear to displease anyone save only Thee.

Let all things that pass away seem vile in my eyes, and let all things that are eternal be dear to me. Let me tire of that joy which is without Thee, neither permit me to desire anything that is outside Thee. Let me find joy in labour that is for Thee; and let all repose that is without Thee be tiresome to me.

Give me, my God, the grace to direct my heart towards Thee, and to grieve contiually at my failures, together with a firm purpose of amendment.

O Lord, my God, make me obedient without gainsaying, poor without despondency, chaste without stain, patient without murmuring, humble without pretense, cheerful without dissipation, serious without undue heaviness, active without instability, fearful of Thee without abjectness, truthgul without double-dealing, devoted to good works without presumption, ready to correct my neighbour without arrogance, and to edify him by word and example, without hypocrisy.

Give me, Lord God, a watchful heart which shall be distracted from Thee by no vain thoughts; give me a generous heart which shall not be drawn downward by any unworthy affection; give me an upright heart which shall not be led astray by any perverse intention; give me a stout heart which shall not be crushed by any hardship; give me a free heart which shall not be claimed as its own by any unregulated affection.

Bestow upon me, O Lord my God, an understanding that knows Thee, diligence in seeking Thee, wisdom in finding Thee, a way of life that is pleasing to Thee, perseverance that faithfully waits for Thee, and confidence that I shall embrace Thee at the last. Grant that I may be chastised here by penance, that I may make good use of Thy gifts in this life by Thy grace, and that I may partake of Thy joys in the glory of heaven: Who livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

(St. Thomas Aquinas)

An indulgence of 3 years once a day.

A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, provided that the daily recitation of this prayer be continued for a month (S.C. Ind., Jan.17, 1888; S.P.Ap., July 31,1936).

The Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Ave Maria ...
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Ave Maria ...
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt amongst us.
Ave Maria ...
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

This prayer is said from Saturday evening before Trinity Sunday until Holy Saturday evening inclusive, this prayer is recited three times a day, namely, in the morning (6am), at noon and in the evening (6pm). We recite the Angelus kneeling, except for Saturday evenings and Sundays.

Prayer of Reparation of the Angel of Fatima:

O My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee.

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee profoundly, and I offer Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by which He is offended, and by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and through the merits of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

Prayer of Pope Saint Pius X to St. Joseph

Prayer of Pope Saint Pius X to St. Joseph (Patron of Workers)

O glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labour, 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 inclinations;

To work with gratitude and joy, considering it an honour to employ and develop by means of labour, 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 with detachment from self, having ever before my eyes the hour of death and the account I must give of time poorly spent, talents unused, good omitted, and vain complacency in success.

All for Jesus, all through Mary; all after thy example, O Patriarch Joseph; such shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen.

Prayer of St. Anselm to Our Lord and Our Lady

O Good Son, by the love, by which Thou lovest Thy mother, give me, I pray Thee, to love her truly, as truly Thou lovest her and will to love her.

O Good Mother, by the love by which thou lovest thy Son and want Him to be loved, obtain for me, I pray thee, to love Him truly as thou lovest Him and willest Him to be loved.

Regina Caeli

V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom Thou didst merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Hath risen as He said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord hath risen indeed, alleluia.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, didst vouchsafe to fill the world with joy; grant we beseech Thee, that through His Virgin Mother Mary, we may lay hold of the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

This prayer replaces the Angelus from Easter Sunday morning until noon of Saturday after Pentecost inclusive. It is also sung or recited at Compline with its verse and prayer during Paschal Time.

Prayer for Students

From the Raccolta:

O most holy Virgin Mary, who didst bear Jesus our Saviour and didst shed the everlasting Light upon the world, O Mother of divine knowledge, whose merciful intercession hath procured the grace of increasing in knowledge and piety for countless minds that were rude and ignorant, I choose thee as the guide and patroness of my studies.

By thine intercession, O Mother of fruitful studies, may the Holy Spirit fill my spirit with light and fortitude, prudence and humility; may He give me a good will, intelligence, memory and ability in sufficient measure, and above all, a spirit of docility both in mind and heart, that I may proceed in all things according to the counsels of divine Wisdom.

Defend me, good Mother, against the spirit of pride and presumption, of vain curiousity and instability; keep me from every occasion of stumbling, from all erroneous opinion, and from all things that might corrupt my faith and disturb the clearness of my understanding, the purity of my heart, and the peace of my soul.

Grant, O Mary, that, under thy protection, I may ever by submissive to the directions and teachings of Holy Church, my mother, and may advance in the way of truth and virtue surely, courageously and without wavering; at length may I attain to the knowledge, the love and the everlasting possession of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord.

Amen.

An indulgence of 500 days (Pius X, Rescript in his own hand, April 26, 1907, exhib. April 27, 1907; S.P.Ap., Sept. 18, 1933).