Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

Matthew 14:30

Sinking times are praying times with the Lord’s servants. Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late. 

In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox hies to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety.

Heaven’s great harbour of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail.

Short prayers are long enough. There were but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. 

A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity. If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wing they would be all the better. 

Verbiage is to devotion as chaff to the wheat. Precious things lie in small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter.

Our extremities are the Lord’s opportunities. Immediately a keen sense of danger forces an anxious cry from us the ear of Jesus hears, and with him ear and heart go together, and the hand does not long linger. 

At the last moment we appeal to our Master, but his swift hand makes up for our delays by instant and effectual action. Are we nearly engulfed by the boisterous waters of affliction? 

Let us then lift up our souls unto our Saviour, and we may rest assured that he will not suffer us to perish. When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist his powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.

Frequent Confession

1. Confess Frequently

You don’t “have to” confess frequently, but it is a good idea.

Confession is not just for mortal sins. Frequent Confession is an easy and powerful means to overcome venial sins and lukewarmness. Because we love Jesus, we hate our sins.

Because we hate our sins and understand His power to overcome them, we confess our sins to Him as He request through this Sacrament. Because we love Jesus, we hate our pride. 

Because we hate our pride, we imitate His humility (He humbled Himself to take on Flesh and dwelt amongst us!) and confess our sins to His representative (the priest) so He can forgive us directly.

Why not take advantage of the Sacrament where Jesus

Himself works directly in the soul? Is there a better way to increase your sorrow for sin and to humbly express that sorrow by taking advantage of this great sacrament of forgiveness and mercy?

Why not approach the Just Judge NOW and accuse ourselves often when there is yet time to repent? Do you really want to wait until you die before you stand before the “Court of GOD” and His perfect Justice?

 Glorify His Mercy NOW during this time of Mercy so that His Perfect Justice will be tempered by your disposition to receive and forgive His mercy.

Unless you experience God’s forgiveness, how can you forgive those who hurt you? Don’t resist His will to forgive you - go to confession frequently!

Frequent, good confessions is humble and safe. Today, almost all souls go to Holy Communion on Sunday. But how many go to Confession? How can so much sin in the world be compatible with Holy Communion if all of those Communions were indeed Holy? 

If those Holy Communions were associated with frequent Confession, the world would quickly become sanctified!

2. Daily Examination of Conscience

Every night take at least a minute or two and review the day: What did I do wrong? Why did I offend God?

Make acts of sorrow. Make a formal Act of Contrition.

How can I do better? Resolutions give strength and integrity to your true contrition for your sins. Keep trying; if you fall; you get up again and keep trying. Jesus came not for the self-righteous for the sinner. The sinner who believes in Jesus will keep trying and by the grace of God will eventually become a saint!

3. Daily Particular Examination of Conscience

Each soul has his strengths given to him by God.

Our strengths are accompanied with our dominant weaknesses. Moreover, your strength is your weakness insofar as you don’t entrust yourself to God and build your foundation upon Christ! Every other foundation will come shattering down.

It is a good idea to spend a minute in the midday (maybe around Noon, the time of the Angelus) to check up on your dominant weakness: How am doing? 

Ask Jesus’ forgiveness for your sins that day and renew the battle then and there while the day is far from spent!

The “particular exam” regarding our dominant spiritual fault provides a powerful means to grow in grace and grow in real, lived-out virtue. We don’t “check out” of the plan to continually grow in grace by ignoring the battle; rather we consciously strive then-and-there to serve God first precisely in the matter where we need His grace the most!

I Ask Your Help, As A Beggar Asks Alms

" I Ask Your Help, As A Beggar Asks Alms.
Will You Help Me?"

For larger images
and to see the promises given by Our Lord,

see links below

 Image 1

Image 2

An Act of Abandonment (by Saint Francis De Sales) Devotion

O my God, I thank you and I praise you for accomplishing your holy and all-lovable will without any regard for mine.
With my whole heart, in spite of my heart, do I receive this cross I feared so much!

It is the cross of Your choice, the cross of Your love.

I venerate it; nor for anything in the world would I wish that it had not come, since You willed it.

I keep it with gratitude and with joy, as I do everything that comes from Your hand; and I shall strive to carry it without letting it drag, with all the respect and all the affection which Your works deserve.

Amen.

An Act of Abandonment to Divine Providence (by Saint Jane Frances De Chantal.) Devotion

O sovereign goodness of the sovereign Providence of my God!

I abandon myself forever to Thy arms.

Whether gentle or severe, lead me henceforth whither Thou wilt; I will not regard the way through which Thou wilt have me pass, but keep my eyes fixed upon Thee,
my God, who guidest me.

My soul finds no rest without the arms and the bosom of this heavenly Providence, my true Mother, my strength and my rampart.

Therefore I resolve with Thy Divine assistance, O my Saviour, to follow Thy desires and Thy ordinances,
without regarding or examining why Thou dost this rather than that; but I will blindly follow Thee according to Thy Divine will, without seeking my own inclinations.

Hence I am determined to leave all to Thee, taking no part therein save by keeping myself in peace in Thy arms,
desiring nothing except as Thou incitest me to desire,
to will, to wish.

I offer Thee this desire, O my God, beseeching Thee to bless it; I undertake all it includes, relying on Thy goodness, liberality, and mercy, with entire confidence in Thee, distrust of myself, and knowledge of my infinite misery and infirmity.

Amen!

Catholic Prayers - http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wiktoria.goroch.bible_prayers

Act of Adoration - 2

I adore Thee, O my God, present in the holy Eucharist, as my Creator, my Preserver, and my Redeemer. 

I offer Thee all that I have, all that I am, all that depends on me; I offer Thee my mind to think of Thee, my heart to love Thee; my will to serve Thee; my body to labour and suffer for Thy love.

 I am Thine, I give myself; I consecrate myself to Thee, I abandon myself to Thee, I wish to live and die for love of Thee.

Amen

Act of Adoration Devotion - 1

Jesus, my God, I adore You,
here present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar,
where You wait day and night to be our comfort
while we await Your unveiled presence in heaven.

Jesus, my God,
I adore You in all places
where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved
and where sins are committed
against this Sacrament of Love.

Jesus, my God,
I adore You for all time,
past, present and future,
for every soul that ever was,
is or shall be created.

Jesus, my God,
who for us has endured hunger and cold,
labour and fatigue,
I adore You.

Jesus, my God, who for my sake
has deigned to subject Yourself
to the humiliation of temptation,
to the perfidy and defection of friends,
to the scorn of Your enemies,
I adore You.

Jesus, my God, who for us has endured
the buffeting of Your passion,
the scourging, the crowning with thorns,
the heavy weight of the cross,
I adore You.

Jesus, my God, who,
for my salvation and that of all mankind,
was cruelly nailed to the cross
and hung there for three long hours in bitter agony, I adore You.

Jesus, My God,
who for love of us
did institute this Blessed Sacrament
and offer Yourself daily for the sins of men,
I adore You.

Jesus, my God,
who in Holy Communion became the food of my soul,
I adore You.

Jesus, for You I live.
Jesus, for You I die.
Jesus, I am Yours in life and death.

Amen.

Mark 11:25

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.

Evening Prayer to God the Father Devotion

O eternal God and Ruler of all creation, You have allowed me to reach this hour. 

Forgive the sins I have committed this day by word, deed or thought. 

Purify me, O Lord, from every spiritual and physical stain. 

Grant that I may rise from this sleep to glorify You by my deeds throughout my entire lifetime, and that I be victorious over every spiritual and physical enemy.

 Deliver me, O Lord, from all vain thoughts and from evil desires, for yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. 

Amen. 

(By Saint Macarius)

Prayer to Amend One's Ways Devotion

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, You patiently endured our sins, and were hung upon the life giving wood. 

You opened a way to paradise for the penitent thief and crushed Death by Your death. 

Now forgive the trespasses that we Your servants have committed, unworthy sinners that we are. 

We have sinned indeed and transgressed Your law. 

We are unworthy even to lift up our eyes to heaven, for we have abandoned the path of Your holiness and pursued the desires of our hearts. 

But now we implore Your immense goodness. 

Spare us, O Lord in the multitude of Your mercies; save us for the sake of Your most Holy Name. 

Our days were spent in vanity; rest us from the hands of our enemy, and forgive our sins. 

Subdue in us the cravings of our flesh, so that, after putting off the old self, we may put on the new and live for You, our Lord and Benefactor; and that, obeying Your commandments, we may reach eternal repose in the place where all the blessed abide; for You are truly Joy and Delight to those who love You, O Christ our God. We send up glory to You, and to Your eternal Father, and to Your all-holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever.

Amen.

Daily Offering Devotion - 2

O Jesus, through the immaculate heart of Mary,

I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

I offer them for all the intentions of your sacred heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all the apostles of prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

Amen

PRAYER FOR MY SPOUSE

Lord Jesus Christ my Saviour, I offer this prayer for my spouse, [Name Here].

May [Name Here] heart always be open to your Holy Spirit so that he/she be made holy by you Lord.

Help me Lord to always uplift [Name Here]. 

Help me to see his/her gifts, the gifts you yourself bestowed upon him/her.

Let me not get stuck in anger, bitterness or sorrow towards [Name Here].

May all the Saints in heaven pray for us.

Let not the devil enter our household.

Send angels of sufficient rank, number, power and authority to our home to surround it and prevent any evil from entering our home or our hearts.

Where there is unforgiveness heal us and show us how to extend mercy towards one another as you extended mercy towards us from the cross.

Where I see an unmovable mountain in our relationship, I pray that You pick it up and move it as the miracle worker You are.

Guard our purity, let nothing defile our hearts, minds or bodies which are made for covenant with one another as a free gift.

Keep our hearts always pure for one another.

Protect always our marriage, let there be no division among us.

May we both seek to know Your Will, and choose it with a resounding YES, in the same way the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph said yes, bringing you into their hearts and home.

May we together be a living sanctuary of your love that brings forth the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

I ask this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Fatima Morning Offering Devotion

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings,

all that this day may bring,

be they good or bad:

for the love of God,

for the conversion of sinners,

and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Amen

Daily Offering Devotion

O Jesus, through the immaculate heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

I offer them for all the intentions of your sacred heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the reunion of all Christians. 

I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all the apostles of prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

Amen

Prayer for strength

Everything that has made the Holy Spirit to be away from me, depart now in thy name of Jesus.

Amen

Act of Faith

Oh my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God, in three Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man and died for our sins and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. 

I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. +

Prayer for a Bishop

God, eternal shepherd, you tend your Church in many ways and rule us with love. 

You have chosen your servant, N., to be a shepherd of your flock. 

Give him a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. 

By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he build your Church as a sign of salvation for the world.

The Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

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

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

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

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

V. And the Word was made Flesh.

R. And dwelt among us.

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

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.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be 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.

For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst 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.

Prayer to Holy Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Divine Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. 

Amen.

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, O 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.

Lead: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

Response: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

St. Augustine's Evening Prayer

Watch, O Lord,
with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.

Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ.

Rest your weary ones.

Bless your dying ones.

Soothe your suffering ones.

Pity your afflicted ones.

Shield your joyous ones.

And for all your love’s sake.

Amen.

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,
for the intentions of all my relatives and friends,
and in particular
for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Amen.