MORNING PRAYER

On awakening offer your first thoughts and affections to God; make the Sign of the Cross, and say:

In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ I arise; bless me, O Lord; defend and govern me this day and for ever, and after this short and miserable pilgrimage, bring me to everlasting happiness with thee.

  O God, my Creator and Redeemer, look graciously on thy servant, the work of thy hands; and mercifully grant that all my thoughts, words, and actions, may be directed to the praise and honor of thy name, and the salvation of my own soul. Amen.

Rise diligently; dress yourself modestly, and let your first care be to say your morning prayers. 

Place yourself in the presence of God.  

Most holy and august Trinity, one God in three Persons, I believe that thou art here present; I adore thee with sentiments of the most profound humility, and render thee, with all my heart, the homage which is due to thy Sovereign Majesty.

 

Thank God, and offer yourself to Him. 

  My God, I thank thee most humbly, for all the favours thou hast bestowed upon me; it is thy goodness which has brought me to the beginning of this day, which I desire to employ only in thy service.  

I consecrate to thee all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; bless them, O Lord, that they may be animated by thy love, and tend only to promote thy greater glory.   
 

Resolve to avoid sin, and to practice holiness.

Adorable Jesus, Divine Model of that perfection to which we should aspire, I will endeavour this day, after thy example, to be mild, humble, chaste, zealous, patient, charitable, and resigned; and I will strive particularly to avoid those faults to which I am most subject, and which I sincerely desire to correct.
 

Beg the necessary grace.   

My God, thou knows my weakness; I can do nothing without the assistance of thy holy grace; do not refuse it to me, O my God, but proportion it to my wants; give me sufficient strength to avoid what thou hast forbidden, to practice the good thou expectest of me, and to suffer patiently all the crosses thou mayest be pleased to send me.

The Lord's Prayer.  

  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 them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.
 

The Hail Mary.  

  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
 

The Apostles' Creed.  

I believe in God the Father Almightly, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.   Amen.
 

The Confiteor.  

I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me. 

May Almighty God have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins, and bring us to life everlasting. Amen.  

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins. Amen.
 

Act of Faith.  

My God, I most firmly believe in thee, and in all that thou hast revealed to thy holy Catholic Church, because thou art truth itself, who neither canst deceive, nor be deceived. Amen.
 

Act of Hope. 

My God, I most firmly hope in thee, because of all thy promises; and I trust that thou wilt give me eternal life, and all the graces necessary to obtain it, through the merits of my Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.
 

Act of Charity.  

My God, I love thee with my whole heart and above all things, because thou art the Sovereign Good, and for thy own perfections most worthy of all love; and for thy sake I love my neighbor as myself.  Amen.
 

Ask the Prayers of the Saints.   

Holy Virgin, Mother of God, my mother and patroness, I place myself under thy protection, and I throw myself with confidence into the bosom of thy mercy. 

O Mother, most amiable, be my refuge in my necessities, console me in my sufferings, and be my advocate with thy Divine Son, to-day and every day of life, but particularly at the hour of my death. 

O Angel of God, who art appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and protect me, direct and govern me. 

O all ye blessed Saints who stand around the eternal throne, particularly you whose names I bear, my holy patrons and protectors, defend me and pray for me; that, like you, I may serve God faithfully on earth, and, with you, glorify him eternally in heaven.  Amen.
 

The Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.  

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendour of the Father,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, brightness of eternal light,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of glory,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Sun of justice,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most amiable,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most admirable,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, mighty God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the world to come,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Angel of great counsel,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most powerful,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most patient,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most obedient,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek, and humble of heart,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of chastity,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of us,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, author of life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, example of virtues,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, zealous lover of souls,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our refuge,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the poor,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, true light,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal wisdom,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, infinite goodness,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our way and our life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, joy of Angels,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of Patriarchs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Master of Apostles,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Teacher of Evangelists,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, strength of Martyrs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, light of Confessors,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, purity of virgins,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, crown of all Saints,
Have mercy on us.
Be merciful unto us,
Spare us, O Jesus.
Be merciful unto us,
Graciously hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil,
Jesus, deliver us.
From all sin,
Jesus, deliver us.
From thy wrath,
Jesus deliver us.
From the snares of the devil,
Jesus deliver us.
From the spirit of uncleanness,
Jesus deliver us.
From everlasting death,
Jesus deliver us.
From the neglect of thy inspirations,
Jesus deliver us.
Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thy nativity,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thy infancy,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thy most Divine life,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy labors,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thine agony and passion,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy cross and dereliction,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy faintness and weariness,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy death and burial,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy resurrection,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thine ascension,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy institution of the Most Holy Sacrament,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy joys,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy glory,
Jesus deliver us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Jesus!

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Jesus!

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us, O Jesus.

Jesus, hear us.

Jesus, graciously hear us.
 

Let Us Pray.  

O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; give, we beseech thee, to us who ask, the grace of thy most divine love, that with all our hearts, words, and works, we may love thee, and never cease to praise thee.

Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of thy Holy Name; for thou never failest to govern those whom thou dost solidly establish in thy love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty and Eternal God, who has appointed thy only-begotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and hast commanded that he should be called Jesus; mercifully grant that we may enjoy in Heaven the blessed vision of him, whose Holy Name we venerate upon earth. Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
 

The "Angelus Domini."

To be said morning, noon, and night, in memory of our Savior's becoming man for us.

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:  

And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.  

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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. 

Behold the handmaid of the Lord, 

Be it done to me according to thy word. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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. 

And the Word was made flesh, 

And dwelt amongst us. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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. 

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, 

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. 

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, thy merciful eyes towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement! O loving! O sweet Virgin Mary! 

Pour down thy choicest blessings, O Lord, on our Sovereign Pontiff, and rejoice thy Church by the speedy proclamation of universal peace, that, resting in the bosom of unity, our strength against the enemy may be perfected in charity. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Lord Jesus, shelter under the protection of thy divine Heart our holy father Pope Francis.

It was a rainy morning in Vatican Square in 2014. 

I glanced to my right to find a young Italian woman in the chair next to me. It was an irresistible photo shot which I shared with her after Holy Mass. I pray she is well.