To grow in a prayer life, a good resource is the following website:
https://www.magnificat.net/
Prayer time:
"We should not accept in silence the benefactions of God, but return thanks for them." St. Basil
"Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who
pray." St. Louis de Montfort
Short Thomas Merton Quotes on Prayer
- It is when we pray truly that we really are. Our being is brought to a high perfection by this.
- There must be a time when the man of prayer goes to pray as if it were the first time in his life he had ever prayed.
- This new language of prayer has to come out of something that transcends all our traditions, and comes out of the immediacy of love.
- Prayer and love are learned in the hour when prayer becomes impossible and your heart has turned to stone.
Long Thomas Merton Quote on Prayer
- Help us to be masters of the weapons that threaten to master us. Help us to use our science for peace and plenty, not for war and destruction. Save us from the compulsion to follow our adversaries in all that we most hate, confirming them in their hatred and suspicion of us.
Quote from Martin Luther King
"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing."
Very Long Thomas Merton Quote on Prayer
- O God, we are one with You. You have made us one with You. You have taught us that if we are open to one another, You dwell in us. Help us to preserve this openness and to fight for it with all our hearts. Help us to realize that there can be no understanding where there is mutual rejection. O God, in accepting one another wholeheartedly, fully, completely, we accept You, and we thank You, and we adore You, and we love You with our whole being, because our being is Your being, our spirit is rooted in Your spirit. Fill us then with love, and let us
be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways, united in this one spirit which makes You present in the world, and which makes You witness to the ultimate reality that is love. Love has overcome. Love is victorious.
Amen.
To pray the Liturgy of the Hours select this link: http://universalis.com/readings.htm
This link is a great place to build a consistant and disciplined prayer time. Using the printed books can be a bit difficult for beginners, so this site makes the ability to read the "Hours" a lot easier.
Catholic Prayer and Devotion
The human heart is drawn to the divine. Many people have a sincere longing for holiness and that is why they spend time in contemplation. *******
We are encouraged to cultivate a profound inner life, contact with Jesus Christ that is both personal and constant. The Fathers of the Church have consistently said that without true friendship with Jesus, it is impossible for a Christian, to fulfill the mission of the Lord. ********
What is Prayer?
Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God, or the petition of good things from him in accord with his will.
It is always the gift of God who comes to encounter man. Christian prayer is the personal and living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is infinitely good, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit who dwells in their hearts. ********
How Does Jesus Teach Us to Pray?
Jesus teaches us to pray not only with the Our Father but also when he prays. In this way he teaches us, in addition to the content, the dispositions necessary for every true prayer: purity of heart that seeks the Kingdom and forgives one’s enemies, bold and filial faith that goes beyond what we feel and understand, and watchfulness that protects the disciple from temptation. *********
Why is Our Prayer Efficacious?
Our prayer is efficacious because it is united in faith with the prayer of Jesus. In him Christian prayer becomes a communion of love with the Father. In this way we can present our petitions to God and be heard: “Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full” (Jn 16:24). ********
Common Catholic Prayers
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. **********
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. *********
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. **********
The Apostle's 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 Spirit, 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 Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *********
Hail Holy Queen
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, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen. ********
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, make me holy
Body of Christ, be my salvation
Blood of Christ, let me drink your wine
Water flowing from the side of Christ, wash me clean
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
Kind Jesus, hear my prayer
Hide me within your wounds
And keep me close to you
Defend me from the evil enemy
And call me at the hour of my death
To the fellowship of your saints
That I might sing your praise with them
for all eternity. Amen. *********
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, We fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother; to thee do we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer them. Amen. *********
The Angelus V-
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R- And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
(Hail Mary....)
V- Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R- Be it done unto me according to thy word.
(Hail Mary....)
V- And the Word was made Flesh.
R- And dwelt among us.
(Hail Mary....)
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. *********
Saint Michael Prayer
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. **********
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartfully sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment, but most of all because I have offended Thee my God, Who is all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
*********
Miraculous Medal Prayer
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, and for those who do not have recourse to thee, especially the enemies of the Church and those recommended to thee. Amen. *********
Morning Offering
Dear Lord, I do not know what will happen to me today. I only know that nothing will happen that was not foreseen by You, and directed to my greater good from all eternity. I adore Your holy and unfathomable plans, and submit to them with all my heart for love of You, the Pope, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen.
*********
Guardian Angel Prayer
Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
**********
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen. **********
Grace After Meals
We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. *********
http://www.catholicity.com/prayer/prayers.html *********
Thomas Merton's Prayer
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
*********************************************************************
French Merton Prayer
Seigneur mon Dieu, je ne comprends pas du tout où je vais. Je ne vois pas la route devant moi. Je ne puis savoir avec certitude où elle aboutira. Je ne me connais pas non plus en réalité, et le fait que je pense me conformer à Votre volonté ne produit ni ne signifie mon obéissance effective. Mais je crois que le désir de Vous plaire Vous plaît en effet. Et j'espère avoir ce désir en toutes mes actions. J'espère ne jamais rien faire sans ce désir. Je sais que si j'agis ainsi Vous me conduirez par le droit chemin, même si je n'en sais rien. Aussi mettrai-je toujours ma confiance en Vous, même si je me crois perdu et dans l'ombre de la mort. Je ne craindrai pas, car Vous êtes toujours avec moi, et Vous ne me laisserez jamais seul en face du danger. ···
- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
© Abbey of Gethsemani
© by Edition d'Histoire et d"Art por la traduction française
*********************************************************************
El Rezo de Thomas Merton
MI SEÑOR DIOS, no tengo ni idea donde voy.
No veo el camino delante de mí.
No puedo saber con seguridad donde esto se terminará.
Tampoco realmente me sé, y el hecho que pienso que sigo su voluntad no significa que realmente hago así.
Pero creo que el deseo de complacerle le complace realmente de hecho.
Y espero que yo tenga aquel deseo en todo lo que hago.
Espero que yo nunca haga nada aparte de aquel deseo.
Y sé que si hago este usted me conducirá por el camino derecho aunque yo pueda no saber nada sobre ello.
Por lo tanto voy a yo confiar en usted siempre aunque yo pueda parecer ser perdido y en la sombra de muerte.
No temeré, ya que usted está alguna vez conmigo, y usted nunca me abandonará para afrontar mis peligros solos.
- Thomas Merton, "Pensamientos en Soledad"
********************************************************************
German Merton Prayer
Mein Herr und Gott, ich habe keine Ahnung, wohin ich gehe. Ich sehe den
Weg, der vor mir liegt, nicht. Ich kann nicht mit Gewissheit sagen, wo er enden
wird. Auch mich selbst kenne ich nicht wirklich, und dass ich denke, deinem
Willen zu folgen, bedeutet noch nicht, dass ich dies auch tatsächlich tue. Aber
ich glaube, dass der Wunsch, dir zu gefallen, dir wirklich gefällt. Und ich
hoffe, ich habe dieses Verlangen in all meinem Tun. Ich hoffe, dass ich nie
etwas jenseits dieses Verlangens tun werde. Und ich weiß, wenn ich es dennoch
tue, wirst du mich den rechten Weg führen, selbst wenn ich davon nichts wüsste.
Deshalb will ich dir stets vertrauen, auch wenn ich verloren und im Schatten des
Todes scheine. Ich werde mich nicht ängstigen, denn du wirst bei mir sein und
mich in all meinen Gefahren niemals allein lassen.
Translation by Bernhard Riedl
*********************************************************************
Portuguese Merton Prayer
SENHOR, MEU DEUS, não tenho idéia para onde estou indo. Não
vejo o caminho adiante de mim. Não posso saber com certeza onde terminará. Nem
sequer, em verdade, me conheço. E o fato de eu pensar que estou seguindo tua
vontade, não significa que realmente o esteja. Mas acredito que o desejo de te
agradar te agrada, de fato. E espero ter esse desejo em tudo que estiver
fazendo. Espero jamais vir a fazer alguma coisa distante desse desejo. E sei
que, se agir assim, tu hás de me levar pelo caminho certo, embora eu possa nada
saber sobre o mesmo. Portanto, hei de confiar sempre em ti, ainda que eu possa
parecer estar perdido e sob a sombra da morte. Não hei de temer, pois tu sempre
estás comigo, e nunca hás de deixar que eu enfrente meus perigos
sozinho.
- Thomas Merton Na liberdade da soli
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
*********************************************************************
French Merton Prayer
Seigneur mon Dieu, je ne comprends pas du tout où je vais. Je ne vois pas la route devant moi. Je ne puis savoir avec certitude où elle aboutira. Je ne me connais pas non plus en réalité, et le fait que je pense me conformer à Votre volonté ne produit ni ne signifie mon obéissance effective. Mais je crois que le désir de Vous plaire Vous plaît en effet. Et j'espère avoir ce désir en toutes mes actions. J'espère ne jamais rien faire sans ce désir. Je sais que si j'agis ainsi Vous me conduirez par le droit chemin, même si je n'en sais rien. Aussi mettrai-je toujours ma confiance en Vous, même si je me crois perdu et dans l'ombre de la mort. Je ne craindrai pas, car Vous êtes toujours avec moi, et Vous ne me laisserez jamais seul en face du danger. ···
- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
© Abbey of Gethsemani
© by Edition d'Histoire et d"Art por la traduction française
*********************************************************************
El Rezo de Thomas Merton
MI SEÑOR DIOS, no tengo ni idea donde voy.
No veo el camino delante de mí.
No puedo saber con seguridad donde esto se terminará.
Tampoco realmente me sé, y el hecho que pienso que sigo su voluntad no significa que realmente hago así.
Pero creo que el deseo de complacerle le complace realmente de hecho.
Y espero que yo tenga aquel deseo en todo lo que hago.
Espero que yo nunca haga nada aparte de aquel deseo.
Y sé que si hago este usted me conducirá por el camino derecho aunque yo pueda no saber nada sobre ello.
Por lo tanto voy a yo confiar en usted siempre aunque yo pueda parecer ser perdido y en la sombra de muerte.
No temeré, ya que usted está alguna vez conmigo, y usted nunca me abandonará para afrontar mis peligros solos.
- Thomas Merton, "Pensamientos en Soledad"
********************************************************************
German Merton Prayer
Mein Herr und Gott, ich habe keine Ahnung, wohin ich gehe. Ich sehe den
Weg, der vor mir liegt, nicht. Ich kann nicht mit Gewissheit sagen, wo er enden
wird. Auch mich selbst kenne ich nicht wirklich, und dass ich denke, deinem
Willen zu folgen, bedeutet noch nicht, dass ich dies auch tatsächlich tue. Aber
ich glaube, dass der Wunsch, dir zu gefallen, dir wirklich gefällt. Und ich
hoffe, ich habe dieses Verlangen in all meinem Tun. Ich hoffe, dass ich nie
etwas jenseits dieses Verlangens tun werde. Und ich weiß, wenn ich es dennoch
tue, wirst du mich den rechten Weg führen, selbst wenn ich davon nichts wüsste.
Deshalb will ich dir stets vertrauen, auch wenn ich verloren und im Schatten des
Todes scheine. Ich werde mich nicht ängstigen, denn du wirst bei mir sein und
mich in all meinen Gefahren niemals allein lassen.
Translation by Bernhard Riedl
*********************************************************************
Portuguese Merton Prayer
SENHOR, MEU DEUS, não tenho idéia para onde estou indo. Não
vejo o caminho adiante de mim. Não posso saber com certeza onde terminará. Nem
sequer, em verdade, me conheço. E o fato de eu pensar que estou seguindo tua
vontade, não significa que realmente o esteja. Mas acredito que o desejo de te
agradar te agrada, de fato. E espero ter esse desejo em tudo que estiver
fazendo. Espero jamais vir a fazer alguma coisa distante desse desejo. E sei
que, se agir assim, tu hás de me levar pelo caminho certo, embora eu possa nada
saber sobre o mesmo. Portanto, hei de confiar sempre em ti, ainda que eu possa
parecer estar perdido e sob a sombra da morte. Não hei de temer, pois tu sempre
estás comigo, e nunca hás de deixar que eu enfrente meus perigos
sozinho.
- Thomas Merton Na liberdade da soli
