Daily Community Devotional Prayers
THE ANGELUS
(Outside of the Easter Season)
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary full of grace...
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary full of grace...
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary full of grace...
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. 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.
R. Amen.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, * and will be for ever. Amen. (Three Times)
REGINA CAELI
(From the Easter Vigil to Penetecost)
V. Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
V. Let us pray: O God, by the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You have willed to make glad the whole world. Grant, we beseech You, that through His mother, the Virgin Mary, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. We ask this through the same Christ Our Lord.
R. Amen.
TO OUR HOLY MOTHER OF MERCY
O Mary, our Mother of Mercy, the fullness of God's own mercy dwells in you. With the eyes of a mother, look upon your sons. Intercede for everyone who suffers in body or soul, and for all who are enslaved in mind or spirit. We give ourselves to you totally — mind, heart, and senses. Keep them and help us always to be a sign of God's love. Reveal to us what it means to be yours, and teach us to live in that same generosity with which you responded to the grace of Jesus our Redeemer. Amen.
TO OUR HOLY FATHER AND FOUNDER
To you we turn, St. Peter Nolasco, Father and Founder of our Mercedarian family. You have taught us to live this life by loving God and neighbor, as Christ our Redeemer has taught us. Guide our steps today in the service of the poor, the oppressed, and the persecuted. Obtain for us the grace and strength to face the suffering and chains which still bind so many in body and spirit. Obtain for us from our Lord a heart and mind truly free to follow your example of boundless love for souls, even to the sacrifice of our own lives. Amen.
THE MORNING 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, the salvation of souls, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops, and in particular, for all the intentions recommended by our Holy Father this month.
COMMUNAL INVOCATIONS
For Vocations:
V. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and our Most Holy Mother Mary, grant us numerous and holy priests and religious.
R. And grant that our community, by our words and manner of living, may promote and accompany those you have called. Amen.
For our Superiors:
V. Assist, O Lord, our major superiors and all the superiors of our Order in their care for the community.
R. So that our Mercedarian Family may always work for the edification of your kingdom and be of service to our oppressed brothers and sisters. Amen.
For our Benefactors:
V. For the sake of your name, O Lord, reward those who have become our benefactors.
R. And give them eternal life. Amen.
For our Missionaries:
V. Guide with your love, O Lord, and sustain them with your Grace.
R. Bless and assist all our missionaries. Amen.
For the Deceased of the Order:
V. O God, source of forgiveness and salvation, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.
R. Grant that our Brothers and Sisters, who have gone from this world may come to share eternal happiness in your heavenly home. Amen.
PRAYERS IN PREPARATION FOR CHAPTER
I
V. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, Mother of God, our patroness and our help.
R. You willed the foundation of this Religious Family to liberate captive Christians.
V. O Immaculate Virgin, help us by your powerful intercession.
R. You willed the foundation of this Religious Family to liberate captive Christians.
V. From heaven, assist us, help us by your visit.
R. Protect this vine which your right hand has planted.
V. Let us pray: O Lord, our God, who through the glorious Mother of your Son called us to imitate Christ's sublime charity; grant us the help of your grace that in word and deed, we may exalt our eminent Foundress, and we may be able to offer you in fact all that we have pledged to you under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
II
V. The Lord sent his servant Peter Nolasco, to liberate those who were in darkness and in the shadow of death.
R. Let us try to imitate his ardent charity.
V. He heard the afflicted, the captives in misery and chains.
R. Let us try to imitate his ardent charity.
V. In Peter Nolasco, our Father, the Lord has visited us.
R. So that, freed from the power of the enemy, we may serve him in holiness and justice.
V. Let us pray: O Lord, who clothed our Father Saint Peter Nolasco with the charity of Christ, and who, through the Virgin Mary, made him a messenger of love and freedom to captive Christians; grant that we may imitate his example for the liberation of all the oppressed, and the edification of your Church. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYER BEFORE MEDITATION
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
V. Let us pray: O God, you taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be truly wise and always rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER AFTER MEDITATION
Your Immaculate Conception, O Virgin Mary, has brought joy to the whole world; for from you Christ was born, the Sun of Justice, by whom we have been redeemed and saved.
V. O Blessed Virgin, the Lord has clothed you with holiness.
R. Mother of God, intercede for us.
V. Let us pray: Father, you gave mankind eternal salvation through the motherhood of the Virgin Mary. May we experience the help of her prayers in our lives, for through her we received the very source of life, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
In grateful response to the will of the Lord, the Saints of our Order remained in brotherly love, one in faith and the redeeming spirit.
V. See how sweet it is, how delightful.
R. Where brothers dwell as one.
V. Let us pray: O God, source of all love, you have made the image of your mercy shine forth in the saints of our Order. They dedicated themselves to the service of their brothers and sisters, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Guide our steps in the way trodden by them, and grant us the spirit of love, which we admire in them. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.