Vigil Prayers
(Said at Evening Prayer on the eve of the following feasts, before the blessing)
Epiphany
Lord, our God, we praise you for sending us your Son as Savior of the world. We adore you because you manifested his glory to all peoples and nations. Fill your Church here on earth with the spirit of faith and adoration. Strengthen our conviction that even today you are close to your people in your Son, and reign as Lord over all.
L All the kings of the earth will adore him. Alleluia.
R All the peoples will serve him. Alleluia.
Father of light, unchanging God, today you revealed your Word made Flesh to the nations by the guidance of a star. Your light is strong, your love is near; draw us beyond the limits which this world imposes, to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
St. Vincent Pallotti January 22
St. Vincent Pallotti, from your place in glory look upon us, your sons and daughters. We behold you, the tireless apostle, and thank the most Holy Trinity for calling you to be the founder of the Union of Catholic Apostolate. You gave us the life of our Lord Jesus Christ as our Fundamental Rule. Intercede for us with God, that we, like Mary, Queen of Apostles, will be filled with love and zeal, that we will be true apostles who spread faith and love throughout the world, so that soon all nations will be united in the one Church under the one shepherd, Jesus Christ.
L Pray for us, St. Vincent Pallotti.
R That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
God, our Father, you called St. Vincent Pallotti to be a priest in your Church, He dedicated his life to the revival of the faith of your Christian people and worked unceasingly to make their love strong. As we follow his example, help us to make your Truth shine brightly in people’s lives and to embrace them all with true love as our brothers and sisters.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
The Presentation of the Lord February 2
Holy Virgin Mary, you humbly accepted the will of God to become the Mother of our Lord. Faithfully observing the Law, forty days after the birth of your Son you brought him to the temple to be consecrated to God. Help us to imitate your humility and the obedience of your Son.
L Our eyes have seen the salvation
R which the Lord has prepared for all the nations to see.
Almighty God, your only begotten Son took our human nature and was presented in the temple today. Purify our hearts cleansed from sin.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
St. Joseph March 19
Saint Joseph, we come to you and ask with confidence for your protection. You were united in love with the Immaculate Mother of God and cared as a good father for Jesus. Look upon your people whom Jesus redeemed through his passion and death. Help us to work zealously in the kingdom of God and to serve our neighbor in all we do.
L The Lord made him master of his house.
R and ruler of all his possessions.
God, you placed us in your world to work and be creative. By the work of his hands, St. Joseph sustained the Holy Family.
Through his intercession give us the power and endurance to fulfill your mandate here on earth and one day to receive the reward you have promised.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
R Amen.
The Annunciation of the Lord March 25
Virgin Mary, we greet you. God called you to be the Mother of his Son. You were totally open to God’s will and placed yourself at his service. Ask God to help us also always to be ready to receive the Good News of your Son and to welcome the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
L Hail Mary, full of grace,
R the Lord is with you.
God, you are great and incomprehensible. According to your will the Eternal Word became a man through the Virgin Mary. Believing, we confess that our Redeemer is true God and true man. Make us worthy to receive a share in his divine life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.,
R Amen.
Queen of Apostles Saturday before Pentecost
Hail Mother Mary, Queen and Teacher of Apostles. Look upon our Society that has consecrated itself to the work of the Catholic Apostolate and has chosen you as its patroness. Help us to love God and our neighbor. Implore your Son to bless our work so that soon all will know and love and adore the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
L Queen of Apostles, pray the Lord of the harvest, alleluia.
R to send laborers into his vineyard, alleluia.
Almighty God, you bestowed the Holy Spirit on the apostles while they persevered in prayer together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Grant us the grace to serve you faithfully and to spread abroad your glory by word and example.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
Pentecost
Holy Spirit, you live and reign in your Church. Fill us more and more with your power. Give us the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and strength, of knowledge and piety and fear of the Lord. Make us one in you and grant that your Church may live united in your love.
L Send forth your Spirit and they will be created, alleluia.
R And you will renew the face of the earth, alleluia.
Father of light, from whom every good gift comes, send your Spirit into our lives with the power of a mighty wind, and by the flame of your wisdom open the horizons of our minds. Loosen our tongues to sing your praise in words beyond the power of speech, for without your Spirit we could never raise our voices in words of peace or announce the truth that Jesus is Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever.
R Amen.
Trinity Sunday
Most Holy Trinity, the whole Church praises and worships you. Heaven and earth glorify you. As one God in three Persons we adore you. We thank you in the name of all creatures, for you are our Maker, our Redeemer and our final end. To you be honor and glory forever.
L Let us bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
R Let us praise and exalt God forever.
Lord, Heavenly Father, you sent your Word and your Spirit into the world to reveal the mystery of your divine life. Grant that in true faith we may profess the greatness of the Holy Trinity and adore the unity of the three Persons in the almighty power of their working.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
Sacred Heart Friday of the Third Week After Pentecost
We praise you, Lord Jesus Christ: in your opened Heart your Love has become visible to us. We thank you for loving your own even to the end. Help us to accept one another in love and never tire of doing good.
L Jesus, full of kindness and love,
R make our hearts like yours.
Father, we rejoice in the gifts of love we have received from the Heart of Jesus your Son. Open our hearts to share his life and continue to bless us with his Love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul June 29
Glorious Apostles, Peter and Paul, in your lives you fulfilled the mission of Jesus Christ. From the day of Pentecost you proclaimed the message of salvation, founded communities and appointed presbyters. You gave your lives for Christ. Obtain for us a living faith and a burning love for Christ, for we wish to follow your example always.
L Their message goes out all over the world,
R their word to the ends of the earth.
Lord, our God, through the apostles Peter and Paul, you laid the foundations of faith in your Church. By their intercession sustain and complete that faith which leads us to eternal salvation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary August 15
Mary, Mother of God, we profess our faith that God has taken you up into the glory of heaven. The final consummation of the world and all of its people has already come to perfection in you. Intercede for us with God for the grace that we will be free from all evil. Help us to live in such a way that we too may gain our heavenly home.
L The Lord has chosen you.
R He has taken you to dwell in his tent.
Almighty God, you chose the Virgin Mary to be the Mother of your eternal Son. You looked upon your humble servant and crowned her with glory. Listen to her prayers for us and receive us too into your glory, since you have redeemed us through the death and resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever.
R Amen.
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 8
Holy Virgin Mary, you are the joy of the whole world. Through you the Sun of Justice, Christ our Lord, has risen over the world. You are the new Eve, the Mother of Life. You are blessed among women!
L Your birth, O Virgin Mother of God
R brought joy to the whole world.
Merciful God, open the treasures of heavenly grace to all your faithful people. The birth of the Redeemer through Mary was for us the beginning of salvation. May this birthday celebration of the Virgin Mother strengthen and increase peace on earth.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
Mission Sunday Penultimate Sunday of October
Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, the nations await you. You have redeemed all the peoples of the world by your blood. Grant that all may know you, believe in you and serve you. Inspire people in your church to carry this Good News to those who as yet do not know you. Strengthen all missionaries with your power.
L Lord, send laborers into your harvest
R and have mercy on your people.
God, you desire that your Church be a sign of salvation among people and that it pursue the work of Christ til the end of time. Foster in all who believe a deep concern for the salvation of the world, that all the nations may become one holy people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
Christ the King Last Sunday of Ordinary Time
Lord Jesus Christ, you are priest and king of all creation. Through your death on the cross and your victorious resurrection you completed the work of redemption. When one day the whole creation has been submitted to your dominion, you will deliver to your heavenly Father, an eternal, all-embracing kingdom; a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom or holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
L Lord Jesus Christ, King of the universe
R your rule lasts from age to age.
Eternal God, you gave your Son all power in heaven and on earth. You made him head of the new creation. Free your creatures from the power of the enemy, so that they will serve you alone and will praise you for all eternity. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
The Immaculate Conception December 8
Holy Mary, because of your Son, God preserved you from sin from the first moment of your conception. As the dawn receives its light from the sun and goes before it, so you go before Christ, the Sun of Justice, and shine with his light.
L Hail Mary, full of grace,
R the Lord is with you.
Almighty God, we celebrate the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary whom you chose from among all creatures and made holy. Listen to her intercession and grant us your salvation. Bless us with the fullness of your grace. Free us from sin so that we may come to you with pure hearts. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R Amen.
Christmas December 25
Lord Jesus Christ, Divine Word, you became a man and lived among us. You took our nature that we might share in your divinity. You became our brother and we became children of God.
L the Lord has made known, alleluia
R His salvation, alleluia
Almighty God, in a wonderful manner you created us in our human dignity, and in an even more wonderful manner you redeemed us. Give us a share in the Divine Life of your Son who took upon himself our human nature.
He lives and reigns forever and ever.
R Amen