With all the fervour of my soul, I implore
these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits
from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy
powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with
simplicity, confidence and humility.)
Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood
and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and
through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and
favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying
for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic
appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my
appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way
seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in
Him and in thee. Amen
Fifth Day
1. Consider that St Philomena
suffered martyrdom for Jesus Christ.....They wanted to wrest her
Faith from her....they wanted to make her violate her Baptismal
vows, to persuade her to follow the example of idolaters and
apostates. And what does the devil, the world, the flesh and your
own heart want from you on so many occasions but the same sort of
unfaithfulness? All forms of it are an offence against God. Are
these not vain fears, indeed, which make you lacking sometimes in
your duties, or which cause you to betray your faith?.....O my God,
what shameful slackness! ….Take courage at last!
2. To overcome human respect say to yourself from time to
time: It is better to please God than men.
3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.
Let
us pray.
O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even
from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who
celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena,
may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our
Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest
and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever.
Amen
Prayer for Lapsed Catholics
Let us pray.
O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death
of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out
upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the
hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which
Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of
their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures
of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice
of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the
integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity.
Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace,
through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our
Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we
pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in
this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally
in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother.
Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own
infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in
the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take
under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their
Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful
servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all "the cause of
our joy" and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us
both for time and for eternity. Amen.
Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for
us.
That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy
Divine Son: "That all may be one."
Prayer to St. Peter
O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles
and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively
faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in it's fullness
and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain
for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us
ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to
thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church
which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine
intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return
speedily to their Father's house, so that on earth they may enjoy
peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in
heaven. Amen.
O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for
us.
That we may be worthy of the promises of
Christ.
Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of
the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all
the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the
Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from
this time forth for evermore. Amen.
St Philomena, pray for us.
Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart.
Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to Thy Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: "Praise be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever." Amen.
