Prayers and Reflections
The Pope’s Monthly Intention
For priests in crisis: Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.
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A Prayer for Good Friday
Lord, this is the hour of your abandonment. I watch as you are betrayed and handed over to be disowned, falsely accused, interrogated, tortured, unjustly sentenced.
Again, you are disrobed, ready to serve. In memory of this, the altars of the world are now stripped bare, and tabernacles left open and empty.
Before the Cross I feel torn. I would run from it, but love keeps me close. I lift my eyes to meet your gaze. How hard it is to bear the sufferings of others, especially those we love. To love is to suffer. To be vulnerable is to be wounded.
Between your gasps for breath, I hope you can catch the residue of Mary’s perfume, the scent of which rises from your feet and lingers in the air.
Lord, you hang shoulder to shoulder with the victim of every oppressive regime, false policy and inhuman ideology. Whose sufferings are you asking me to bear? Help me to be faithful, to persevere, to trust, to suffer, to love. Amen.
cafod.org.uk
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An Easter Message
This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions. Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome – the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter.
Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs His light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and His love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.
Pope Leo XIV, Easter 2025
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An Easter Sunday Family Table Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you that on this glorious day of your resurrection, you are in our midst. We welcome you to our Easter table. Bless this food and our family and fill us with the joy of your Resurrection Life. May this meal remind us of your endless grace and the promise of new beginnings. In your holy name, we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Prayer to the Virgin Mary at Easter
Blessed are you, O Mary, silent witness of Easter! You, O Mother of the Crucified One now risen, who at the hour of pain and death kept the flame of hope burning, teach us also to be, amongst the incongruities of
passing time, convinced and joyful witnesses of the eternal message of life and love brought to the world by the Risen Redeemer.
Pope St John Paul II, 2004
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The Prayer of Saint Anselm
Feast 21 April
O Lord my God, Teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you.
Lord, you are my Lord and my God, and I have never seen you. You have created and re-created me, all the good I have comes from you, and still I do not know you. I have not yet accomplished that for which I was made. Teach me to seek you, and as I seek you, show yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you show me how. Let me seek you by desiring you, and desire you by seeking you; Let me find you by loving you, and love you in finding you.
The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth
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St Catherine of Siena Prayers
Feast 29 April
Holy Spirit, come into my heart; draw it to Thee by Thy power, O my God, and grant me charity with filial fear. Preserve me, O beautiful Love, from every evil thought; warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love, and every pain will seem light to me. My Father, my sweet Lord, help me in all my actions. Jesus, love, Jesus, love. Amen.
knightsoftheholyeucharist.com