Wednesday, September 23

A reading from
the holy Gospel according to Luke 9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.The Gospel of the Lord.

Pray your Rosary Every Day.

Choose the Correct Day. It's that Easy!

 

The Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and Rain on the Roof

 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 those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among 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.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.

Amen.

About These Prayers

The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be are among the best-loved prayers of the Catholic Church.

The Our Father was given to us by Jesus Himself when His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. It is found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

The Hail Mary begins with the words spoken to Mary by the Angel Gabriel and by Saint Elizabeth in the Gospel of Luke. The Church later added the tender petition asking Mary, the Mother of God, to pray for us now and at the hour of our death.

The Glory Be is an ancient Christian prayer of praise to the Holy Trinity. Its familiar form became widely used during the fourth century and has long been prayed at the conclusion of psalms, decades of the Rosary, and other devotions.

These three prayers were taken from My Daily Companion at Mass, published by the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri. This copy is the third edition, dated December 1948. The little prayer book originally sold for ten cents and bears the Church’s Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur.

Tuesday, September 22

A reading from
the holy Gospel according to Luke 8:19-21

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Pray your Rosary Every Day.

Choose the Correct Day. It's that Easy!

 

The Memorare - From St. Moritz, Switzerland

 
Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary...

No one who has ever come to you for protection, asked for your help, or begged for your prayers has ever been left alone.

With this confidence, I come to you, O Virgin of Virgins... and my dear Mother.

I am a poor sinner, and I kneel before you with a sorrowful heart.

O Mother of Jesus, the Divine Word... please do not turn away from my prayer, but lovingly hear and answer me.

Amen.

The Memorare is a beloved prayer written by Saint Bernard asking for the Blessed Virgin Mary’s prayers and motherly care. This six-minute video leaves quiet space for your own private prayers, accompanied by the gentle sound of rain on the roof—recorded years ago during my stay at an old hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Holy Communion

 

Dear Jesus,

be merciful to me,
and forgive my sins.

I believe in You.
I hope in You.
And I love You
with all my heart.

You became man for us.
You suffered for us.
And You died upon the Cross for us.

O Jesus,
hidden in the Blessed Sacrament,
I adore You
with all my soul.

Though I cannot see Your holy face now,
You are truly near.

Wash my heart clean
with Your Precious Blood,
and keep me close to You
in life
and in death.

Dear Mother Mary,
and Saint John,
who stood beneath the Cross,
pray for me,
and help me remain faithful.

Lead me, dear Jesus,
on the path to Heaven,
until one day
I may see You face to face
in everlasting light.

Amen.

From an old German prayer book, a heartfelt Holy Communion prayer of faith, repentance, and love—adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and asking Him to lead the soul home to Heaven.

The Sunday Sermon

The Divine Office

The Divine Office, also called the Liturgy of the Hours, is the Church’s daily prayer of psalms, Scripture, and hymns. Prayed at different times throughout the day, it helps us pause, praise God, and bring our needs before Him. Whether you are familiar with it or just beginning, you are warmly invited to pray with us. Click the link below to join:

Today's Divine Office Readings

Danny Boy: A Love Remembered in Prayer

 

Imagine an Irish doorway in the fading light, a young man leaving, and a woman watching until he disappears down the road. She might be his mother, his wife, or the sweetheart who had hoped to grow old beside him. “Danny Boy” leaves that tenderness unnamed, allowing us to hear the voice of someone we have loved.

We might picture Danny departing for the battlefields of the First World War, though the song appeared in 1913, before the war began, and names no particular conflict. Its farewell belongs to anyone who has watched a loved one go without knowing when—or whether—they will return.

The woman promises to wait through summer sunshine and winter snow. Then comes the thought she can scarcely bear: perhaps Danny will come home, but she will no longer be there to welcome him.

Her request is simple: visit my grave, kneel beside it, and say an Ave for me.

That little word gives the song its unmistakable Catholic flavor. An Ave is a Hail Mary—a prayer familiar from childhood, whispered at bedsides, counted on rosary beads, and offered for those who have died. She asks him to remember her with the same faith that has carried her through their separation.

Imagine him returning at last, walking through the quiet churchyard, his cap in his hands. He kneels, and the prayer comes slowly. Beneath his sorrow is the hope that she rests in God’s care, and that his love still reaches her.

Here the song becomes almost a prayer itself: a tender hope that death cannot silence love, and that those parted in this life may one day meet again. 

The First Appearance of Our Lady at Fatima

The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952) brings to life the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children—Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta—near Fátima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917. Bathed in heavenly light, Our Lady gently reassures them and calls upon them to pray the Rosary each day for peace and an end to war. Their encounter unfolds as a tender story of faith, carrying a message of prayer and hope that continues to touch hearts today.

Tears to My Eyes

 
In the final scene of It’s a Date (1940), Deanna Durbin offers a beautiful rendition of Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” Dressed in a nun’s habit for a play within the film, she sings with a purity of tone and tenderness that give the moment a quiet, prayerful beauty. Her voice lets the music speak for itself—a lovely reminder of why this timeless prayer continues to touch so many hearts.

Morning Prayer

O dearest Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,

This morning I come to you with love and trust.

I place myself in your motherly care, and I give you my whole self—my body and my soul, my thoughts and my heart, and everything I will do today.

Dear Mother Mary, stay close beside me. Watch over me wherever I go.

Keep me from sin and from anything that might lead me away from your dear Son, Jesus.

Help me to be good and gentle today. Guide my thoughts, my words, and everything I do, so that my life may be pleasing to God.

When something is difficult, help me to be patient. When I am afraid, help me to trust.

And when I forget to think of God, gently lead my heart back to Him.

Blessed Mother, keep me beneath your loving protection all through this day.

And when my life on earth is finished, please lead me safely home to Jesus, where I may be with Him forever.

Amen.

This beautiful Morning Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary comes from an old handwritten German Catholic prayer book. Written in the traditional script of an earlier time, it reflects a simple and deeply trusting devotion to Our Lady.

 

Evening Prayer

 

Dear Mother Mary, as the day comes to its quiet end, I come to you softly.You are so gentle and full of love, a shining light when everything grows dim, and a sweet comfort in the stillness of night.

When my heart feels tired, you draw me close and let me rest near you, as a child rests safely beside her mother.

You are so pure and so beautiful, living now with God in Heaven, high above the angels—and still you remember me.

Dear Mother,
please ask your Son Jesus to forgive me for anything I did wrong today, and make my heart clean and peaceful again.

Stay near me through the night. Watch over me while I sleep.
Keep me safe, and lead me always closer to Jesus.

And if I wake in the quiet darkness, help me remember that Heaven is near, and you are watching over me.

Help me to love God more tomorrow, and one day to praise Him with the angels, forever in Heaven.

Good night, dear Mother. Stay with me.

Amen.

This beautiful Evening Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary comes from an old handwritten German Catholic prayer book. Written in the traditional script of an earlier time, it reflects a simple and deeply trusting devotion to Our Lady.

Just Right Night

Anne Akiko Meyers is an acclaimed American violinist celebrated for her expressive playing and dedication to both classical masterpieces and new music. A Juilliard-trained musician, she has performed with leading orchestras worldwide. Her repertoire includes Bach/Gounod’s Ave Maria, a piece she has cherished since childhood and performed in memory of her teacher, Alice Schoenfeld.

Evening Prayer

 

Dear Mother Mary, as the day comes to its quiet end, I come to you softly.You are so gentle and full of love, a shining light when everything grows dim, and a sweet comfort in the stillness of night.

When my heart feels tired, you draw me close and let me rest near you, as a child rests safely beside her mother.

You are so pure and so beautiful, living now with God in Heaven, high above the angels—and still you remember me.

Dear Mother,
please ask your Son Jesus to forgive me for anything I did wrong today, and make my heart clean and peaceful again.

Stay near me through the night. Watch over me while I sleep.
Keep me safe, and lead me always closer to Jesus.

And if I wake in the quiet darkness, help me remember that Heaven is near, and you are watching over me.

Help me to love God more tomorrow, and one day to praise Him with the angels, forever in Heaven.

Good night, dear Mother. Stay with me.

Amen.

This beautiful Evening Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary comes from an old handwritten German Catholic prayer book. Written in the traditional script of an earlier time, it reflects a simple and deeply trusting devotion to Our Lady.

Someone Worthy of Our Love

Love is a beautiful gift from God.

Saint Bernard said that love is the life of the soul. God made our hearts to love, and without love they cannot be truly happy.

But we must choose carefully what we love.

Riches, honor, and pleasure all pass away. They cannot give us lasting happiness. What we love helps to shape the person we become.

When we love only earthly things, our hearts remain close to the earth. But when we love God, our hearts are lifted toward Heaven.

After God, no one is more worthy of our love than the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary is the Mother of God and our loving Mother. She is filled with goodness, purity, wisdom, and love. She cares for us and gently leads us to Jesus.

The more we know Mary, the more we love her.

Saint Bernard described her as a sea of sweetness and an ocean of goodness and love. Mary gently wins our hearts and leads them to her Divine Son.

By loving Mary, we learn to love Jesus more faithfully and remain close to Him.

No words could ever praise Mary as she deserves. Only God fully knows the beauty and holiness of her heart.

Let us ask Him to give us a tender and faithful love for our Blessed Mother.

Blessed Mother Mary,

help me to know and love you more each day.

Take me gently by the hand
and lead me always to Jesus.

Teach me to love Him faithfully,
and keep my love for you
bright and true
all the days of my life.

Amen.

About the Author

This meditation comes from The Love of Mary by Dom Roberto, a Camaldolese hermit of Monte Corona in the beautiful hills of Umbria, Italy. He is believed to have lived during the seventeenth century, although his exact dates are unknown. His treasured book was later said to have been a favorite of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Blessed Mother Mary

Dear Blessed Mother Mary,

God created my heart for love.
Help me love Him above all things
and find my lasting joy in Him alone.

Teach me to love you as my gentle Mother,
trust your tender care,
and follow your humble yes to God.

Draw my heart close to your Immaculate Heart
and lead me ever closer to Jesus.
Help me receive His mercy,
love His Sacred Heart,
and remain with Him in joy and sorrow.

Take me by the hand, dear Mother,
that I may belong more fully to your Son
and offer Him my whole heart.

Amen.

The Love of Mary

Love gives life to our souls. What we love helps shape who we become. When we love God, our hearts grow closer to Him.
Mary is the Mother of God and our loving Mother. She is full of kindness, purity, and wisdom. The more we know her, the more we love her.

She cares for us and gently leads us to Jesus.

Dear Blessed Mother, help us know your goodness and trust your tender care. Teach us to love God above all things. Take us by the hand and lead us closer to your Son.

Amen.

Ave Maria by Celine Dion

About the Music and Image

Céline Dion’s beautiful recording of Schubert’s Ave Maria brings a gentle, soaring tenderness to this ancient prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the image, Kathy looks toward Mary in the early morning light, as though the music itself has opened a little window toward Heaven.

Dear Jesus, I Love You

 
Dear Jesus… You know that I love You.

Dear Jesus… You know that I love You.

Dear Jesus… You know everything. You know… that I love You.

Amen.

In this tender devotional painting, the Blessed Virgin Mary bows in prayer over the sleeping Christ Child, her golden crown and deep blue mantle framing the peaceful scene. Saint Joseph leans close with an open book, while another haloed saint stands nearby. Jesus rests beneath a blanket adorned with colorful flowers.

Created in gouache—pronounced “gwash”—an opaque watercolor paint with rich colors and a soft, matte finish, the work is by an unknown artist. It is undated, though possibly from the 18th or 19th century.  

The single frame video invites us to pause, draw close to Jesus, and offer Him our love.

A Cake for Mary

Compliments to Catholic Cuisine

Each year, on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, our family makes a cake to celebrate. Last year we made a Blueberry Cheesecake and this year we opted for a Lemon Blueberry Cake. Although the type of cake varies from year to year, I usually make sure the cake itself is white, symbolizing Mary's purity, and then we add blueberries to symbolize her blue mantle.

We top the cake with a small statue of Mary and surrounded it with a circle of 10 candles, representing one decade of the rosary. The children then take turns lighting the candles as the whole family prays a "Hail Mary" for each candle. Afterwards we sing Happy Birthday and let the children blow out the candles!!! My children look forward to this tradition every year!

Lemon Blueberry Cake
adapted from the Food Network
Ingredients:
2 (8-inch) round white cakes (I made mine using a boxed white cake mix)

1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

2 teaspoons lemon extract, divided

2 (12-ounce) cans cream cheese frosting
Fresh blueberries (I used frozen since I had some in the freezer.)

Fresh mint sprigs and Lemon slices, quartered (optional)

Directions:

Use a knife to slice cake layers in half horizontally. Use a pastry brush to brush each layer with lemonade concentrate; set aside.

Stir 1 teaspoon of lemon extract into each can of frosting; set aside.

To assemble cake: frost and stack the cake layers on top of each other.

Decorate the cake with blueberries. You can then add the optional clusters of mint sprigs and quartered lemon slices for further decoration if you'd like.

Happy Birthday Dear Blessed Mother!

Happy Birthday Dear Mother Mary

Mary, my mother, on your birthday, we thank God for the gift of your life.

You brought Jesus, our Savior, into the world and shared His love with us all.

Pray for us, dear Mother, that we may grow closer to Jesus and follow Him faithfully.

Help us to love as you love and trust in God each day.

Lord, as we celebrate Mary’s birth, fill our hearts with Your grace and peace.

Guide us always toward You.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.



Happy birthday, our Blessed Mother. With grateful hearts, we honor your gentle love, your courage, and your faithful yes to God. May we follow your example and bring the love of Jesus to others. We love you, dear Mary, today and always.

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.

About the Hail Mary and Art work:

This image is based on a painting by the Italian artist Sassoferrato, likely from the mid-1600s. It shows the Blessed Virgin Mary with her head gently bowed, her eyes lowered, and her hands joined in prayer. A soft white veil frames her peaceful face. Her quiet devotion draws us into the Hail Mary, especially its tender plea: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

The Our Father

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 those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

The Our Father is the prayer Jesus Himself taught His disciples. In it, we honor God as our loving Father, ask that His will be done, trust Him for our daily needs, seek forgiveness, and ask for protection from sin and evil. It is a simple and complete prayer of faith, humility, and trust.

The painting shown during Kathy’s recording is a devotional image of Christ on the Cross by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, the great Spanish Baroque painter. Murillo’s quiet, solemn treatment of the Crucifixion draws our attention to the love and sacrifice of Jesus. The image is especially fitting for the Our Father, reminding us that Christ not only taught us how to pray, but also showed perfect obedience to the Father’s will through His sacrifice on the Cross.

Evening Prayer

 

Dear Mother Mary, as the day comes to its quiet end, I come to you softly.You are so gentle and full of love, a shining light when everything grows dim, and a sweet comfort in the stillness of night.

When my heart feels tired, you draw me close and let me rest near you, as a child rests safely beside her mother.

You are so pure and so beautiful, living now with God in Heaven, high above the angels—and still you remember me.

Dear Mother,
please ask your Son Jesus to forgive me for anything I did wrong today, and make my heart clean and peaceful again.

Stay near me through the night. Watch over me while I sleep.
Keep me safe, and lead me always closer to Jesus.

And if I wake in the quiet darkness, help me remember that Heaven is near, and you are watching over me.

Help me to love God more tomorrow, and one day to praise Him with the angels, forever in Heaven.

Good night, dear Mother. Stay with me.

Amen.

This beautiful Morning Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary comes from an old handwritten German Catholic prayer book. Written in the traditional script of an earlier time, it reflects a simple and deeply trusting devotion to Our Lady.

Morning Prayer

O dearest Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,

This morning I come to you with love and trust.

I place myself in your motherly care, and I give you my whole self—my body and my soul, my thoughts and my heart, and everything I will do today.

Dear Mother Mary, stay close beside me. Watch over me wherever I go.

Keep me from sin and from anything that might lead me away from your dear Son, Jesus.

Help me to be good and gentle today. Guide my thoughts, my words, and everything I do, so that my life may be pleasing to God.

When something is difficult, help me to be patient. When I am afraid, help me to trust.

And when I forget to think of God, gently lead my heart back to Him.

Blessed Mother, keep me beneath your loving protection all through this day.

And when my life on earth is finished, please lead me safely home to Jesus, where I may be with Him forever.

Amen.

This beautiful Morning Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary comes from an old handwritten German Catholic prayer book. Written in the traditional script of an earlier time, it reflects a simple and deeply trusting devotion to Our Lady.

Daily Daily Sing to Mary

Remain Faithful

O Mary, my Mother, help me always to stay close to you.

When I am tempted to do wrong, help me to call on you. When I am sad, troubled, or do not know what to do, remind me that I can always turn to you.

May your dear name be often on my lips and always in my heart, so that I may remember you and ask for your help.

Dear Mother Mary, help me never to do or say anything that would trouble my conscience. Keep my heart faithful, loving, and pure.

Amen.

This little prayer was written in French and comes from an old handwritten Catholic prayer book found in an antiquarian bookshop in Paris. Its message is to stay close to Mary in the ordinary struggles of life—to call on her when we are tempted, sad, troubled, or unsure of what to do. It reminds us to guard our words, our actions, and our conscience, and to ask Mary to help us remain faithful, loving, and pure.

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 the Almighty God have mercy on me,
forgive me my sins,
and bring me to everlasting life.

Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord
grant me pardon, absolution,
and remission of all my sins.

Amen.

About the Confiteor

The Confiteor is a traditional Catholic prayer of sorrow and humility. In it, we confess our sins before God, ask the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints to pray for us, and place our trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, 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, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from 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.

About the Apostles' Creed

The Apostles’ Creed is one of the oldest and most beloved statements of the Christian faith. In a few simple lines, it gathers together what we believe about God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, the Holy Ghost, the Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection, and everlasting life.

Praying the Creed is more than reciting words we have learned by heart. It is a quiet and beautiful way of saying to God, “This is what I believe, and in You I place my faith and trust.”

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.

About the Hail Mary

The Hail Mary is one of the Church’s most beloved prayers to Our Blessed Mother. It begins with the words of the Angel Gabriel and Saint Elizabeth in the Gospel, praising Mary and the blessed fruit of her womb, Jesus. Then, with the simple trust of children, we ask Mary, the Mother of God, to pray for us now and at the hour of our death.


About the Wall Scene

The beautiful scene on the wall is adapted from The Annunciation by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, painted in the mid-1600s. It shows the Angel Gabriel appearing to the Blessed Virgin Mary and offering her a lily, a symbol of her purity, while the Holy Spirit descends above and angels surround the scene in heavenly light.

In this Santa Fe setting, the Annunciation seems almost to open into Kathy’s little room, giving the feeling that Heaven has drawn very near as she prays.

The Our Father

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 those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

About the Our Father

The Our Father is the prayer Jesus Himself taught His disciples when they asked Him how to pray. It is simple, complete, and deeply trusting. In it, we honor God as our Father, ask that His will be done, place our daily needs in His hands, ask forgiveness, and beg Him to protect us from sin and evil. It is truly the prayer of a child speaking to a loving Father.


About the Painting

This image is a modern adaptation of an old Catholic devotional painting, artist unknown. At its center, Jesus reveals His Sacred Heart, radiant with divine love, while the crowned female figure and the Eucharistic imagery recall the Church’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. The angels and clouds give the scene a heavenly character, as though the mysteries of faith are opening before Kathy as she prays.

Dear Jesus

 
Dear Jesus,

You know that I love You.

Dear Jesus,

You know that I love You.

Dear Jesus,

You know everything.

You know that I love You.

Amen.

This prayer comes from an old handwritten Catholic prayer book. It is a simple prayer of love for Jesus, trusting that He knows our hearts completely and knows how deeply we love Him.

The Longing Heart

 

Click Arrow to Begin. Use tools at bottom Right to view Full Screen.

                                                                                                       

Dear Heavenly Father,

My heart longs for You and for the happiness of Heaven.

While I am here on earth, help me to love You faithfully and to follow Your holy will.

Teach me not to hold too tightly to the things of this world, but to keep my heart turned toward You.

Let everything I do bring me a little closer to Heaven.

And when my earthly life is finished, take me gently home, where, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and all the saints, I may see You, love You, and praise You forever.

Amen.

This prayer comes from an old handwritten Catholic prayer book. It is a gentle prayer of longing for Heaven and for the day when our souls may be at home with God forever.

The Power of Prayer

 
Our prayers are very precious to God.

When we speak to Him from our hearts, He listens.

The saints tell us that even the angels carry our prayers before God, almost like sweet incense rising up to Heaven.

I love thinking about that.

Even a little prayer, quietly whispered, is precious to Him. No prayer offered with love and trust is too small for God to hear.

The Bible tells us this again and again.

God says, “Call upon Me, and I will hear you.”

And Jesus tells us, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”

These are such comforting words.

Jesus wants us to come to Him. He wants us to ask for His help and to trust Him with the things that are in our hearts.

He even tells us that our Father in Heaven gives good things to those who ask Him.

That does not mean that God will always give me exactly what I ask for, or in the way I expect.

God sees things that I cannot see, and He knows what is truly best for me.

But I can always be certain of this:

God hears me.

He knows what I need.

And when I pray with faith, my prayer is never forgotten.

So when I am worried, I can pray.

When I need help, I can pray.

When someone I love needs God’s grace, I can pray for them.

And even when I do not know what to say, I can simply turn my heart toward God and ask Him to help me.

Then I can leave my prayer in His hands, trusting that my Father in Heaven has heard me.

And that is a very peaceful thing to know.

Amen.