Prayer

Prayer is the raising of our hearts and minds to God. We are able to speak to and listen to God because he teaches us to pray. There are countless expressions of the same basic forms of prayer: blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.


Prayer of Saint John Vianney

I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love You until the last breath of my life.
I love You, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving You, than live without loving You.
I love You, Lord and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally…
My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.

Amen

Novena Prayer to Saint John Vianney (for vocations)

O God our Father, you promised “I will appoint shepherds for my sheep who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble: and none shall be missing.” (Jer. 23:4-5). Through the intercession of Saint John Vianney we pray that men who desire to serve you, in imitation of the humble saint, respond to the call to the Priesthood.

By you, O Lord, may they be sustained and consoled in times of doubt and discouragement as they fulfill their ministry.

Mary, mother of Priests and example of faithful, humble and joyful acceptance of God’s will, come to the assistance of all who discern the call to Priesthood. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, Priest of the Lord and inexhaustible Confessor, in your quest to pursue your vocation, you were not deterred by the obstacles that came your way. Your strong faith carried you through all of life’s trials to your place in God’s Kingdom.

By contemplating on your life, may I be imbued with the same determination to be the best I can be in my life. Let what I think, say, and do, benefit my neighbor and lead me ever closer to our Heavenly Father.

Through your intercession may I be strengthened in courage and faith so that I too may give all to God without counting the cost. Amen.

The Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Your 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 You, O Lord,
Your Grace into our hearts;
that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,
your Son by the message of an angel,
so by His passion and cross
we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
Through the same Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Prayer to Saint Joseph for the Whole Church

O Glorious Saint Joseph,
you were chosen by God
to be the foster father of Jesus,
the most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin,
and the head of the Holy Family.
You have been chosen by Christ’s Vicar
as the heavenly Patron and Protector
of the Church founded by Christ.

Protect the Sovereign Pontiff
and all bishops and priests united with him.
Be the protector of all who labor for souls
amid the trials and tribulations of this life;
and grant that all peoples of the world
may be docile to the Church
without which there is no salvation.

Dear Saint Joseph,
accept the offering I make to you.
Be my father, protector,and guide in the way of salvation.
Obtain for me purity of heart and a love for the spiritual life.
After your example, let all my actions be directed
to the greater glory of God,
in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus,
the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
and your own paternal heart.
Finally, pray for me that I may share
in the peace and joy of your holy death.

Amen

Prayer for Vocations

Loving and Generous God,
it is You who call us by name
and ask us to follow You.
Help us to grow in the Love
and Service of our Church
as we experience it today.

Give us the energy and courage
of Your Spirit
to shape its future

Grant us faith-filled leaders
who will embrace Christ’s Mission
of love and justice.

Bless the Parish of Saint John Vianney
by raising up dedicated and generous leaders
from our families and friends
who will serve Your people as Sisters,
Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers.

Inspire us to know You better
and open our hearts
to hear Your call.

We ask this through our Lord.

Amen

Radiating Christ Prayer

A beautiful prayer by Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman. This Prayer was recited daily after Communion by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her Sisters of Charity. This Prayer is also known as the Fragrance Prayer.

Dear Jesus,
Help me to spread Your fragrance wherever I go.
Flood my soul with Your spirit and Your life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly,
that my life may only be a radiance of Yours.
Shine through me, and be so in me
that every soul I come in contact with
may feel Your presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus!
Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine,
so to shine as to be a light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from You;
none of it will be mine. It will be you,
shining on others through me.
Let me thus praise You the way You love best,
by shining on those around me.
Let me preach You without preaching,
not by words but by my example,
by the catching force of the sympathetic influence of what I do,
the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to You.

Amen


Online Prayer Resources

  • St. John Vianney Novena
    Novena prayer in honor of our Patron Saint. Begins on July 27th.
  • USCCB
    An impressive collection of prayers, devotionals, meditations, and much more from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
  • Universalis
    A wonderful online source for the Liturgy of the Hours. Includes the Office of Readings and Morning, Evening and Night Prayer.
  • ETWN
    The Global Catholic Network offers a comprehensive collection of prayers and devotionals.
  • 3 Minute Daily Retreat
    Loyola Press offers these beautiful daily prayer reflections online for desktop and mobile users.

Prayer can truly change your life. For it turns your attention away from yourself and directs your mind and your heart toward the Lord. If we look only at ourselves, with our own limitations and sins, we quickly give way to sadness and discouragement. But if we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, then our hearts are filled with hope, our minds are washed in the light of truth, and we come to know the fullness of the Gospel with all its promise and life. ~ St. John Paul II