Prayers

St. Thomas Parish

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, and for the intentions of our bishops and those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Yours.

O Maty, my Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am your own, keep me, guard me as your property and possession. Amen.

JOYFUL MYSTERIES

(prayed on Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays of Advent,

Sundays from Epiphany to Lent)

(for love of neighbor)

(for love of God and spirit of poverty)

4. Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

(for obedience to God's Will)

5. Jesus is Found in the Temple

(for fidelity to one's vocation)

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

(prayed on Tuesday, Fridays, Daily from Ahs Wednesday until Easter Sunday)

1. The Agony in the Garden (for true repentance, spirit of prayer)

2. Jesus is Scourged at the Pillar (for mortification)

3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns (for moral courage, purity of mind and heart)

4. Jesus Carries the Cross (patience in suffering)

5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (final perseverance)

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

(prayed Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays from Easter until Advent)

1. The Resurrection (for faith)

2. The Ascension into Heaven (for hope)

3. The Holy Spirit Descends Upon the Apostles (for wisdom, fortitude, zeal)

4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (for a holy life and holy death)

5. Mary is Crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth (for love of Mary)

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY

We begin the rosary by praying the Preparatory Prayer and then blessing ourselves (making the sign of the cross) with the crucifix and saying at the same time: "Incline unto my aid, O God; O lord, make haste to help me". Pray The Apostle's Creed, one "Our Father" and three "Hail Mary's" and one "Glory Be". Announce the mystery and meditate upon it while saying one "Our Father" and ten "Hail Mary's". This completes one decade, and all other decades are said in the same manner with a different mystery meditated during each decade. Each decade is concluded with a "Glory Be" and pray "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen." At the end of the rosary, say the "Hail, Holy Queen".

THE PREPARATORY PRAYER

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. 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 rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, is seated 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 life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed by 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 Spirit. As ity was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O, MY JESUS (Fatima Prayer)

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.

THE SALVE REGINA (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!

V - Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God

R - That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

V - The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R - And she conceived of the Holy Spirit

V - Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R - Be it done unto me according to thy word.

V - And the Word was made Flesh.

R - And dwelt among us.

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.

(Traditionally, the Angelus is said a 6 - 12 - 6)

PRAYER OF THE ANGEL (Fatima)

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You, I ask forgiveness for those who do not believe, nor adore, nor hope nor love You.

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended, and by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners. Amen.

O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made a better us of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory...(followed by the Act of Contrition)

ACT OF CONTRITION

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

Devotion to the Child Mary ~ Maria Bambina

History of Maria Bambina

Earliest tradition traces devotion to the Holy Child Mary to Jerusalem to the Church of St. Anne, situated near the Temple and the Pool of Bethesda. Here in the twelfth century the crusaders built a church on the site of the fifth-century Byzantine church. The current edifice is one of the most beautiful in the Old City of Jerusalem.

At the foot of the steps at the right center of the Church of St. Anne is the cave believed to be the home of St. Joachim and St. Anne, and thus, the site of the Immaculate Conception. On this sacred spot God created a perfect image of Himself. This holy grotto honoring Mary has been visited by pilgrims for centuries. How many thousands of pilgrims have prayed here before the beautiful statue of the infant Mary! How many have sung together "Happy Birthday" to her!

The following article has been adapted from printed materials from the Sisters of Charity of Milan.

The miraculous image of Maria Bambina was made before 1730 by a Franciscan nun who afterwards entrusted it to others during the ensuing years so that eventually it came into the care of the Sisters of Charity at Lovere, Italy.

In 1866 these Sisters of Charity were requested to take over the management of the hospital of Ciceri in Milan and in 1876 this waxen image was carried to their motherhouse at Via S. Sofia 13 where it has remained ever since. All this time this statue was exposed for veneration only on the 8th of September, the Feast of Mary's Nativity, but in 1884 Maria Bambina wanted to reward those who had devotion to her.

Because of paralysis in her arms and feet, Sister Josephine Woinovich was bedridden and in unbearable pain. On the 8th of September she begged Mother General to get Maria Bambina and leave it near her overnight. The following morning Mother General was inspired to take the image, so old, worn, and grayish colored to the other sick Sisters in the infirmary so that they could venerate it. Here there was a devout novice, Giulia Macario, who was unable to move because of her serious illness; but who overcome by her ardent faith, took the image into her arms and pleaded with Maria Bambina in tender and loving words for the grace of her recover She was immediately and miraculously cured. At the same time the image itself underwent an amazing transformation from the former dull gray color to the warm flesh hues it has today. It is enshrined in the sanctuary of the motherhouse in Milan.

May graces and miracles come from devotion to Maria Bambina, among them the recovery of Sister Josephine Woinovich herself. That is why today these Sisters are commonly known as the Sisters of Maria Bambina.

The infant Mary is wrapped in "swaddling clothes." The three diamond-studded gold bands symbolize the love the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity have bestowed upon Mary. The embroidered shield on her chest reflects the fact that she was protected by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit from the moment of her creation. The crown of twelve stars represents the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.

Novena to Maria Bambina

1. Holy Child Mary of the royal house of David, Queen of the angels,

Mother of grace and love, I greet you with all my heart.

Obtain for me the grace to love the Lord faithfully during

all the days of my life. Obtain for me, too, a great devotion

to you, who are the first creature of God's love.

2. O heavenly Child Mary, who like a pure dove was born

immaculate and beautiful, true prodigy of the wisdom of

God, my soul rejoices in you. Oh! Do help me to preserve

the angelic virtue of purity at the cost of any sacrifice.

3. Hail, lovely and holy Child, spiritual garden of delight,

where, on the day of the Incarnation, the tree of life was planted,

assist me to avoid the poisonous fruit of vanity and pleasures of the world.

Help me to engraft into my soul the thoughts, feelings, and virtues of your divine Son.

4. Hail, admirable Child Mary, Mystical Rose, closed garden,

open only to the heavenly Spouse.

O Lily of paradise, make me love the humble and hidden life;

let the heavenly Spouse find the gate of my heart always open

to the loving calls of His graces and inspiration.

5. Holy Child Mary, mystical dawn, gate of heaven, you are my trust and hope.

O powerful advocate, from your cradle stretch out your hand,

support me on the path of life.

Make me serve God with ardor and constancy until death

and so reach an eternity with you.

Blessed Child Mary, destined to be the Mother of God and our loving Mother, by the heavenly graces you lavish upon us, mercifully listen to my supplications. In the needs which press upon me from every side and especially in my present tribulation, I place all my trust in you. O holy Child, by the privileges granted to you alone and by the merits which you have acquired, show that the source of spiritual favors and the continuous benefits which you dispense are inexhaustible, because your power with the Heart of God is unlimited.

Deign through the immense profusion of graces with which the Most High has enriched you from the first moment of your Immaculate Conception, grant me, O Celestial Child, my petition, and I shall eternally praise the goodness of your Immaculate Heart.


	St. Thomas Parish Prayers DAILY OFFERING O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, and for the intentions of our bishops and those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Yours. O Maty, my Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am your own, keep me, guard me as your property and possession. Amen. JOYFUL MYSTERIES (prayed on Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays of Advent, Sundays from Epiphany to Lent) 1. The Annunciation (for humility) 2. The Visitation (for love of neighbor) 3. The Nativity (for love of God and spirit of poverty) 4. Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (for obedience to God's Will) 5. Jesus is Found in the Temple (for fidelity to one's vocation) SORROWFUL MYSTERIES (prayed on Tuesday, Fridays, Daily from Ahs Wednesday until Easter Sunday) 1. The Agony in the Garden (for true repentance, spirit of prayer) 2. Jesus is Scourged at the Pillar (for mortification) 3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns (for moral courage, purity of mind and heart) 4. Jesus Carries the Cross (patience in suffering) 5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (final perseverance) GLORIOUS MYSTERIES (prayed Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays from Easter until Advent) 1. The Resurrection (for faith) 2. The Ascension into Heaven (for hope) 3. The Holy Spirit Descends Upon the Apostles (for wisdom, fortitude, zeal) 4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (for a holy life and holy death) 5. Mary is Crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth (for love of Mary) HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY We begin the rosary by praying the Preparatory Prayer and then blessing ourselves (making the sign of the cross) with the crucifix and saying at the same time: "Incline unto my aid, O God; O lord, make haste to help me". Pray The Apostle's Creed, one "Our Father" and three "Hail Mary's" and one "Glory Be". Announce the mystery and meditate upon it while saying one "Our Father" and ten "Hail Mary's". This completes one decade, and all other decades are said in the same manner with a different mystery meditated during each decade. Each decade is concluded with a "Glory Be" and pray "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen." At the end of the rosary, say the "Hail, Holy Queen". THE PREPARATORY PRAYER O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. 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 rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, is seated 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 life everlasting. Amen. THE OUR FATHER Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed by 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 HAIL MARY 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. THE GLORY BE Glory Be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As ity was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. O, MY JESUS (Fatima Prayer) O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen. THE SALVE REGINA (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! V - Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God R - That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ 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 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. (Traditionally, the Angelus is said a 6 - 12 - 6) PRAYER OF THE ANGEL (Fatima) My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You, I ask forgiveness for those who do not believe, nor adore, nor hope nor love You. Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended, and by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners. Amen. EVENING PRAYER O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made a better us of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory...(followed by the Act of Contrition) ACT OF CONTRITION O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen. Devotion to the Child Mary ~ Maria Bambina History of Maria Bambina Earliest tradition traces devotion to the Holy Child Mary to Jerusalem to the Church of St. Anne, situated near the Temple and the Pool of Bethesda. Here in the twelfth century the crusaders built a church on the site of the fifth-century Byzantine church. The current edifice is one of the most beautiful in the Old City of Jerusalem. At the foot of the steps at the right center of the Church of St. Anne is the cave believed to be the home of St. Joachim and St. Anne, and thus, the site of the Immaculate Conception. On this sacred spot God created a perfect image of Himself. This holy grotto honoring Mary has been visited by pilgrims for centuries. How many thousands of pilgrims have prayed here before the beautiful statue of the infant Mary! How many have sung together "Happy Birthday" to her! The following article has been adapted from printed materials from the Sisters of Charity of Milan. The miraculous image of Maria Bambina was made before 1730 by a Franciscan nun who afterwards entrusted it to others during the ensuing years so that eventually it came into the care of the Sisters of Charity at Lovere, Italy. In 1866 these Sisters of Charity were requested to take over the management of the hospital of Ciceri in Milan and in 1876 this waxen image was carried to their motherhouse at Via S. Sofia 13 where it has remained ever since. All this time this statue was exposed for veneration only on the 8th of September, the Feast of Mary's Nativity, but in 1884 Maria Bambina wanted to reward those who had devotion to her. Because of paralysis in her arms and feet, Sister Josephine Woinovich was bedridden and in unbearable pain. On the 8th of September she begged Mother General to get Maria Bambina and leave it near her overnight. The following morning Mother General was inspired to take the image, so old, worn, and grayish colored to the other sick Sisters in the infirmary so that they could venerate it. Here there was a devout novice, Giulia Macario, who was unable to move because of her serious illness; but who overcome by her ardent faith, took the image into her arms and pleaded with Maria Bambina in tender and loving words for the grace of her recover She was immediately and miraculously cured. At the same time the image itself underwent an amazing transformation from the former dull gray color to the warm flesh hues it has today. It is enshrined in the sanctuary of the motherhouse in Milan. May graces and miracles come from devotion to Maria Bambina, among them the recovery of Sister Josephine Woinovich herself. That is why today these Sisters are commonly known as the Sisters of Maria Bambina. Image The infant Mary is wrapped in "swaddling clothes." The three diamond-studded gold bands symbolize the love the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity have bestowed upon Mary. The embroidered shield on her chest reflects the fact that she was protected by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit from the moment of her creation. The crown of twelve stars represents the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. Novena to Maria Bambina 1. Holy Child Mary of the royal house of David, Queen of the angels, Mother of grace and love, I greet you with all my heart. Obtain for me the grace to love the Lord faithfully during all the days of my life. Obtain for me, too, a great devotion to you, who are the first creature of God's love. HAIL MARY 2. O heavenly Child Mary, who like a pure dove was born immaculate and beautiful, true prodigy of the wisdom of God, my soul rejoices in you. Oh! Do help me to preserve the angelic virtue of purity at the cost of any sacrifice. HAIL MARY 3. Hail, lovely and holy Child, spiritual garden of delight, where, on the day of the Incarnation, the tree of life was planted, assist me to avoid the poisonous fruit of vanity and pleasures of the world. Help me to engraft into my soul the thoughts, feelings, and virtues of your divine Son. HAIL MARY 4. Hail, admirable Child Mary, Mystical Rose, closed garden, open only to the heavenly Spouse. O Lily of paradise, make me love the humble and hidden life; let the heavenly Spouse find the gate of my heart always open to the loving calls of His graces and inspiration. HAIL MARY 5. Holy Child Mary, mystical dawn, gate of heaven, you are my trust and hope. O powerful advocate, from your cradle stretch out your hand, support me on the path of life. Make me serve God with ardor and constancy until death and so reach an eternity with you. HAIL MARY Prayer Blessed Child Mary, destined to be the Mother of God and our loving Mother, by the heavenly graces you lavish upon us, mercifully listen to my supplications. In the needs which press upon me from every side and especially in my present tribulation, I place all my trust in you. O holy Child, by the privileges granted to you alone and by the merits which you have acquired, show that the source of spiritual favors and the continuous benefits which you dispense are inexhaustible, because your power with the Heart of God is unlimited. Deign through the immense profusion of graces with which the Most High has enriched you from the first moment of your Immaculate Conception, grant me, O Celestial Child, my petition, and I shall eternally praise the goodness of your Immaculate Heart. 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