Prayers to the Holy Spirit before Mass

   Most gracious God, in your loving kindness incline your ears to our prayers, and enlighten our hearts with the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may worthily celebrate your mysteries and deserve to love you with an everlasting charity.

   O God, to whom every heart is open, to whom every wish sounds like a word, and from whom no secret is hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the infusion of your Holy Spirit; that we may perfectly love you and worthily offer praise to you.

   Burn our desires and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, that we may serve you with a chaste body, and with a clean heart be pleasing to you.

   Grant, O Lord, that the Advocate who proceeds from you, may enlighten our minds; and may He lead us into all truth, as was promised by your Son.

   May the power of the Holy Spirit be near us, O Lord, mercifully to cleanse our hearts and defend us from all harm.

   O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that, in the same Spirit, we may relish what is right and always rejoice in his consolation.

   O Lord, visit our minds and cleanse our thoughts, we beseech you, that our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, at his coming may find in us a home prepared for him, who with you lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

De Profundis (Psalm 130)

Out of the depths I have cried unto You, O Lord! Lord hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If You, O Lord, will mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand? For with You there is merciful forgiveness; and by reason of Your law I have waited for You, O Lord. My soul has relied on His word; my soul has hoped in the Lord.

From the morning watch even until night; let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with Him plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Prayer Before a Crucifix

Look down upon me, O good and gentle Jesus, while before Your face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech You to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Your five wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David Your prophet said of You, my good Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones.”

On Quest for the Living God:Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God by Sister Elizabeth A. Johnson

From the Committee on Doctrine of United States  Conference of Catholic Bishops

Response of Catholic Theological Society of America

Letter of Cardinal Wuerl

Act of Consecration For the United States

Most Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary, we adore Your majesty and acknowledge Your supreme eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we place the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to You. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Have mercy on our President and on all the offices of our government. Protect family life in our nation. Grant the precious gift of many vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, and all who are in need.

Mary Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother, Patroness of our land, we honor you and ask your maternal protection and care for us. Obtain for us the graces we need to live and die according to the Will of your Divine Son. Amen.

2010 Calendar
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

The Miraculous Medal Prayer

O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate,
we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you
under the tide of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
May this Medal be for each one us a sure sign of your affection for us
and a constant reminder of our duties toward you.
Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection
and preserved in the grace of your Son.
O most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Savior,
keep us close to you every moment of our lives.
Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death;
so that, in union with you, we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever.
Amen.

2010 Calendar
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception