‘Saints and Holy Prayers’ ~ compiled from devout resources of the Saints' sites. Pages 64-70
“Prayer to St. Raphael ~ Sancte Raphael ~ (God has healed)Vouchsafe, O Lord God, to send unto our assistance Saint Raphael the Archangel: and may he, who, we believe, evermore standeth before the throne of Thy majesty, offer unto Thee our humble petitions to be blessed by Thee. Through Christ our Lord.
Dirigere dignare, Domine Deus, in adiutorium nostrum, sanctum Raphaelem Archangelum; et quem tuae maiestati semper assistere credimus, tibi nostras exiguas preces benedicendas assignet. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
Prayer to St. Raphael, Archangel
Glorious archangel, St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, illustrious by thy gifts of wisdom and grace, guide of travelers by land and sea, consoler of the unfortunate and refuge of sinners, I entreat thee to help me in all my needs and in all the trials of this life, as you did once assist the young Tobias in his journeying. And since you art the "physician of God," I humbly pray thee to heal my soul of its many infirmities and my body of the ills that afflict it, if this favor is for my greater good. I ask, especially, for angelic purity, that I may be made fit to be the living temple of the Holy Ghost.
Prayer to the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary
I humbly place my heart between the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary so that in this Sanctuary it may be filled to overflowing with the flames of the Fire of Divine Love.
Prayer to the Holy Souls in Purgatory
Oh holy souls in purgatory, you are the certain heirs of heaven. You are most dear to Jesus as the trophies of His Precious Blood and to Mary, mother of mercy. Obtain for me through your intercession the grace to lead a holy life, to die a happy death and to attain to the blessedness of eternity in heaven. Dear suffering souls, who long to be delivered in order to praise and glorify God in heaven, by your unfailing pity help me in the needs which distress me at this time, particularly... so that I may obtain relief and assistance from God. In gratitude for your intercession I offer to God in your behalf the satisfactory merits of my prayer and work, my joys and suffering of this day (week, month, or whatever space of time you wish to designate). Amen.
Assist at Mass and have a Mass offered for them, if possible. Offerings of the Precious Blood and the Way of the Cross are also powerful means of helping them and obtaining their help.
Prayer to the Most Holy Name of Jesus by St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Jesus, the very thought of Thee with sweetness fills the breast! Yet sweeter far Thy face to see, and in Thy presence rest. No voice can sing, no heart can frame nor can the memory find, a sweeter sound than Jesus' name, the Savior of mankind. O hope of every contrite heart! O joy of all the meek! To those who fall, how kind Thou art! How good to those who seek! But what to those who find? Ah! this, nor tongue nor pen can show the love of Jesus, what it is, none but His loved ones know. Jesus! our only hope be Thou, as Thou our prize shalt be; In Thee be all our glory now, and through eternity.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by St. Gertrude the Great
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary. O my adorable and loving Savior, consume my heart with the burning fire with which Yours is aflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your love. Let my heart be united with Yours. Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions.
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence: But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper. Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth. Therefore the wicked shall not rise again in judgment: nor sinners in the council of the just. For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.
Beatus vir, qui non abiit in consilio impiorum et in via peccatorum non stetit et in conventuderisorum non sedit, sed in lege Domini voluntas eius, et in lege eius meditatur die ac nocte. Et erit tamquam lignum plantatum secus decursus aquarum, quod fructum suum dabit in tempore suo; et folium eius non defluet, et omnia, quaecumque faciet, prosperabuntur. Non sic impii, non sic, sed tamquam pulvis, quem proicit ventus. Ideo non consurgent impii in iudicio, neque peccatores in concilio iustorum. Quoniam novit Dominus viam iustorum, et iter impiorum peribit.
Psalm 2
Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke from us. He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them. Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his rage. But I am appointed king by him over Sion, his holy mountain, preaching his commandment. The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth. Serve ye the Lord with fear: and rejoice unto him with trembling. Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way. When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, blessed are all they that trust in him.
Quare fremuerunt gentes, et populi meditati sunt inania? Astiterunt reges terrae, et principes convenerunt in unum adversus Dominum et adversus christum eius: "Dirumpamus vincula eorum et proiciamus a nobis iugum ipsorum!". Qui habitat in caelis, irridebit eos, Dominus subsannabit eos. Tunc loquetur ad eos in ira sua et in furore suo conturbabit eos: "Ego autem constitui regem meum super Sion, montem sanctum meum!". Praedicabo decretum eius. Dominus dixit ad me: "Filius meus es tu; ego hodie genui te. Postula a me, et dabo tibi gentes hereditatem tuam et possessionem tuam terminos terrae. Reges eos in virga ferrea et tamquam vas figuli confringes eos". Et nunc, reges, intellegite; erudimini, qui iudicatis terram. Servite Domino in timore et exsultate ei cum tremore. Apprehendite disciplinam, ne quando irascatur, et pereatis de via, cum exarserit in brevi ira eius. Beati omnes, qui confidunt in eo.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Dominus pascit me, et nihil mihi deerit: in pascuis virentibus me collocavit, super aquas quietis eduxit me, animam meam refecit. Deduxit me super semitas iustitiae propter nomen suum. Namet si ambulavero in valle umbrae mortis, non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es. Virga tua et baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt. Parasti in conspectu meo mensam adversus eos, qui tribulant me; impinguasti in oleo caput meum, et calix meus redundat. Etenim benignitas et misericordia subsequentur me omnibus diebus vitae meae, et inhabitabo in domo Domini in longitudinem dierum.
Psalm 103, Extracts
The Lord is compassion and kindness, full of patience, full of mercy. He will not fight against you for ever: he will not always be angry. He does not treat us as our sins deserve; he does not pay us back for our wrongdoing. As high as the sky above the earth, so great is his kindness to those who fear him. As far as east is from west, so far he has put our wrongdoing from us. As a father cares for his children, so the Lord cares for those who fear him. For he knows how we are made, he remembers we are nothing but dust. Man - his life is like grass, he blossoms and withers like flowers of the field. The wind blows and carries him away: no trace of him remains.”
Image: Giovanni Mauro della Rovere ~ ’God in Glory and musician angels’, 1616