The canvas of my life
Is messy and sloppy,
Because I make mistakes,
So very many mistakes,
With my clumsy brushstrokes,
But, indeed, I am blessed,
Because the Divine Artist
Dips His cross-shaped brush
Into His most precious blood,
And paints and colors my life
With His divine mercy,
Patiently, joyfully, lovingly,
And transforms my life into a
Magnificent masterpiece.
Based on the writing of St. Francis de Sales
Dearest Heavenly Father,
Through the Holy Spirit
I humbly give you thanks for
The affections and resolutions
You have given me today
In my meditations,
As well as for your great
Goodness and divine mercy.
Eternal Father, I offer to you
The body and blood,
Soul and divinity,
Of your dearly beloved Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
In atonement for our sins,
And those of the whole world.
I wholeheartedly implore you
To share with me the abundant
Graces and virtues
Of your most holy Son,
And to bless my affections and resolutions,
So that I may faithfully fulfill them.
I also thank you for
Having taken care of me today,
And now I will examine
How I have conducted myself
Throughout the course of this day…
For all the good I have done,
I sincerely and wholeheartedly
Thank you for it;
For anything I have done wrong
In thought, word, or deed,
I ask pardon of you,
The Divine Mercy,
And I resolve to confess it
At the first opportunity,
And to make careful
Amendment for it.
In your Divine Providence,
And through the intercession of
Our Lady, the angels,
And the saints,
Please take care of
My body, and my soul,
The Church, and my diocese,
My parish, and my pastor,
My relatives, and my friends,
And everyone else in the world,
That the windows of our souls
Will be closed
Against the shadows of hell.
Thus, with your blessing, dear God,
I go to take the rest
That you have decreed
As necessary for me.
Amen.
(Follow this with an Our Father and a Hail Mary)
Prayed while briefly meditating on Our Lord’s Passion
Jesus, I surrender to You.
Jesus, I trust in You.
For the sake of His sorrowful passion,
Have mercy on us,
And on the whole world.
Amen.
After Meditation upon Sacred Scripture or the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
Inspired by St. Francis de Sales
Dearest Jesus,
King of Divine Mercy,
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
I resolve today to ________,
For the glory of God the Father.
O Mystical Rose,
Our Lady of Love,
Please remind me
Of the sweet scent
Of this spiritual bouquet,
And please pray for me,
That I may put this virtue
Into practice today.
Amen.
Based on the writing of St. Francis de Sales
Dearest God,
I adore you profoundly.
I thank you for the grace
Of preserving me
During this past night,
And I implore your pardon
If I have committed any sin
During the course of it.
I realize that the present day
Is given to me in order to gain
The future day of eternity,
And I plan on using this day well.
Looking ahead to what
Awaits me today,
I now make a firm resolution
To sincerely serve you and
Also advance in holy devotion;
Therefore, this is my spiritual plan:
______________________.
Lord, here is this wretched heart
Of mine, which through your
Goodness has conceived
Many good affections;
Alas, it is too weak and
Miserable to do the good
That it desires to do
Unless you impart your
Heavenly blessing.
For this reason
I humbly beg your blessing,
O Merciful Father,
Through the merits
Of the passion of your Son,
In whose honor I consecrate this day,
And all the remaining days of my life.
O Madonnina d’Amore, pray for me,
O Guardian Angel, pray for me,
All you saints and angels, pray for me,
That the windows of my soul
Will be opened
To the Sun of Justice.
Amen.
Inspired by the Saints
St. Francis de Sales:
Dearest Jesus,
King of Divine Mercy,
I place myself in your holy presence,
And I beseech you to inspire me
By the power of the Holy Spirit
For the glory of God the Father.
Vive Jésus!
St. Paul the Apostle:
Be filled with the Spirit,
Singing to the Lord,
And giving thanks always.
San Padre Pio:
Prega e spera:
Non agitarti.
L’agitazione
Non giova a nulla.
Iddio è misericordioso,
E ascolterà
La tua preghiera.
San Giovanni Paolo II:
Non abbiate paura.
Non abbiate paura!
St. John Paul II:
I love you! I love you!
I love you! I love you!
La Madonnina d’Amore:
Fate quello que vi dirà.
Our Lord of Love:
Approach this Sea of Mercy
With great trust.
St. Augustine:
Patience is the companion of wisdom.
Venerable Fulton J. Sheen:
When Our Blessed Lord came to this earth,
He had the divine sense of humor.
St. Francis of Assisi:
True joy is divine mercy in the dark night.
St. Louis de Montfort:
Tuus totus ego sum,
Et omnia mea tua sunt.
I am all yours, O my Jesus,
And all that I have is yours,
Through Santa Maria,
Your most holy mother.
The Mystical Rose:
Be courageous.
Do not fear apparent obstacles,
But fix your gaze on the Passion of my Son,
And in this way you will be victorious.
Jesus, The Divine Mercy:
Come to me, all you who are weary
And find life burdensome,
And I will refresh you.
Take my yoke upon your shoulders
And learn from me,
For I am gentle and humble of heart.
Your souls shall find rest,
For my yoke is easy,
And my burden light.
Amen.
I believe you are present
In the Blessed Sacrament,
O Jesus,
I love you and desire you.
O never leave me.
I beseech you, O Lord Jesus,
May the burning
And most sweet power
Of your love
Absorb my mind,
That I may die
Through love
Of your love,
Who was graciously pleased
To die
Through love
Of my love.
Amen.
Prayer in the Dark Night of Unknowing
O Divine Artist,
Paint the fruit of the Spirit
On the canvas of my life,
With brushstrokes of love,
With brushstrokes of joy,
With brushstrokes of peace,
With brushstrokes of patience,
With brushstrokes of kindness,
With brushstrokes of generosity,
With brushstrokes of faithfulness,
With brushstrokes of gentleness,
With brushstrokes of self-control,
With brushstrokes of divine wisdom,
With brushstrokes of divine mercy.
O Divine Artist, make my life
A masterpiece of your love!
Amen.
Prayer in the Dark Night of Unknowing
O merciful Lady of Love,
Teach me holy compassion;
O joyful Lady of Love,
Teach me to smile;
O peaceful Lady of Love,
Teach me to surrender;
O patient Lady of Love,
Teach me to slow down;
O kind Lady of Love,
Teach me to think of others;
O generous Lady of Love,
Teach me poverty in spirit;
O faithful Lady of Love,
Teach me trust in Divine Mercy;
O gentle Lady of Love,
Teach me holy humility;
O imperturbable Lady of Love,
Teach me to be calm in battle;
O wise Lady of Love,
Teach me to listen to the Word.
O Jesus, living in Santa Maria,
I wholeheartedly trust in you!
Amen.
Family Prayer at the Hour of Mercy
O Light of the Spirit,
O Light of Love,
Burn brightly in my heart!
Burn brightly in my soul!
Come, Holy Spirit,
Fill the hearts
Of your faithful,
And enkindle in us,
The fire of your love.
O Jesus, living in Santa Maria,
I wholeheartedly trust in you!
Amen.
Dearest Jesus,
I trust in your wholehearted love for me,
I trust in your unfathomable divine mercy,
I humbly accept your special gift to me today:
The great grace of Divine Mercy Sunday,
Forgiveness of all sin and punishment!
Jesus, I love You!
Jesus, I trust in You!
Amen.
O Victorious Virgin,
In the dawn of this
Glorious new year,
Take my hand, gently,
And sweetly lead me
On the path to Truth;
Then joyfully unlock
The Gate of Heaven
Which opens wide
To the Prince of Peace,
To the King of Kindness,
To the Lord of Love;
And as your Son rises
From the depths of my heart,
May Divine Mercy rays
Of red and white
Shine through me
And warm the world!
Amen.
Dearest Jesus,
King of Divine Mercy,
I humbly come and kneel
In Spirit before you;
During this Hour of Mercy,
Help me to slow down my life,
Calmly put aside all of my worries,
And give them to Our Lady,
So that she may gently lay them
At the foot of your cross,
And so I place myself,
Lovingly and wholeheartedly,
In your most holy presence;
Help me to recall your passion,
Your painful bloody passion,
And how much you suffered,
In the agony in the garden,
In the scourging at the pillar,
In the crowning with thorns,
In the carrying of the cross,
And in the crucifixion,
So that I may better understand
How much I have wounded you
With all my sins!
And so, as I stand at Golgotha,
Watching the blood and water
That flow from your side,
I approach this Sea of Mercy
With great trust —
Please, fill my heart,
To overflowing measure,
With your unfathomable mercy.
I pray for myself, for my family,
For the Church, for my diocese,
For my parish and my pastor,
For the world, and for the
Poor souls in purgatory;
Please fill us all with
The fruit of your Spirit.
Amen.
O Jesus, The Divine Master,
I surrender to you!
O Jesus, The Divine Mercy,
I trust in you!
O Jesus, The Divine Artist,
I humbly kneel in awe before you!
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your love,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your joy,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your peace,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your patience,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your kindness,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your generosity,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your faithfulness,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your gentleness,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your self-control,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your divine wisdom,
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your divine mercy.
O Sacrament most holy,
O Sacrament divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving,
Be every moment thine.
Amen.
Tuus totus ego sum,
Et omnia mea tua sunt,
I am all yours, O my Jesus,
And I all that I have is yours,
Through Santa Maria
Your most holy mother.
O Divine Artist, please speak to my heart now,
And make my life a masterpiece of your love…
O Jesus,
King of Divine Mercy,
I pray for myself,
I pray for my family,
I pray for the Church,
I pray for my diocese and parish,
I pray for the world,
I pray for the poor souls of Purgatory,
I pray for the intention of today’s indulgence.
Dearest Jesus,
Please fill us with the fruit of the Spirit!
Please fill us with great trust in your divine mercy!
Please fill us with holy humility!
Please fill us with holy love!
Please fill us with holy thanksgiving!
Amen.
To be said just before and after receiving Holy Communion
Inspired by St. Francis de Sales
O Lord of Love,
I long for holy union with you!
O Lord of Love,
I long for holy union with you!
O Lord of Love,
I long for holy union with you!
Thank you, Jesus,
For the gift of your love!
Amen.
Inspired by St. Francis de Sales
Dearest Jesus,
I place myself in your holy presence,
And I beseech you to inspire me
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
For the glory of God the Father.
My heart is ready, O God,
My heart is ready.
Jesus, I trust in You!
Vive Jésus!
Amen.
Dearest Jesus,
King of Divine Mercy,
I humbly come and kneel
In spirit before you;
During this Hour of Mercy,
Help me to slow down my life,
Calmly put aside all of my worries,
And give them to Our Lady,
So that she may gently lay them
At the foot of your cross,
And so I place myself,
Lovingly and wholeheartedly,
In your most holy presence;
Help me to recall your passion,
Your painful bloody passion,
And how much you suffered,
In the agony in the garden,
In the scourging at the pillar,
In the crowning of thorns,
In the carrying of the cross,
And in the crucifixion,
So that I may better understand
How much I have wounded you
With all my sins!
And so, as I stand at Golgotha,
Watching the blood and water
That flow from your side,
I approach this Sea of Mercy
With great trust —
Please, fill my heart,
To overflowing measure,
With your unfathomable mercy.
I pray for myself, for my family,
For the Church, for my diocese,
For the world, and for the
Poor souls of purgatory;
Please fill us all with
The fruit of your Spirit!
Amen.
A favorite prayer of St. Louis de Montfort
Hail Mary,
Beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father.
Hail Mary,
Admirable Mother of the Son.
Hail Mary,
Faithful Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary,
My Mother, my loving Mistress, my powerful sovereign.
Hail, my joy, my glory, my heart and my soul.
You are all mine by mercy,
And I am yours by justice.
But I am not yet sufficiently yours.
I now give myself wholly to you
Without keeping anything back
For myself or others.
If you see anything in me
Which does not belong to you,
I beseech you to take it
And make yourself the absolute Mistress
Of all that is mine.
Destroy in me all that may displease God;
Root it up and bring it to nought.
Place and cultivate in me
Everything that is pleasing to you.
May the light of your faith
Dispel the darkness of my mind.
May your profound humility
Take the place of my pride;
May your sublime contemplation
Check the distractions
Of my wandering imagination.
May the continuous sight of God
Fill my memory with his presence;
May the burning love of your heart
Inflame the lukewarmness of mine.
May your virtues
Take the place of my sins;
May your merits be my only adornment
In the sight of God
And make up for all that is wanting in me.
Finally, dearly beloved Mother,
Grant, if it be possible,
That I may have no other spirit but yours
To know Jesus, and His Divine Will;
That I may have no other soul but yours
To praise and glorify God;
That I may have no other heart but yours
To love God with a love as pure and ardent as yours.
I do not ask you for visions, revelations,
Sensible devotions, or spiritual pleasures.
It is your privilege to see God clearly,
It is your privilege to enjoy heavenly bliss,
It is your privilege to triumph gloriously in heaven
At the right hand of your Son,
And to hold absolute sway
Over angels, men, and demons.
It is your privilege to dispose of all the gifts of God,
Just as you will.
Such, O heavenly Mary, the “best part,”
Which the Lord has given you,
And which shall never be taken away from you —
And this thought fills my heart with joy.
As for my part here below,
I wish for no other than that which was yours,
To believe sincerely
Without spiritual pleasures,
To suffer joyfully
Without human consolation,
To die continually to myself
Without respite,
And to work zealously and unselfishly for you
Until death, as the humblest of your servants.
The only grace I beg you, for me,
Is that every moment of the day,
And every moment of my life, I may say,
“Amen, so be it, to all you are doing in heaven.
Amen, so be it, to all you did do upon earth.
Amen, so be it, to all you are doing in my soul,”
So that you alone may fully glorify Jesus in me
For time and eternity.
Amen.
Prayer in the Dark Night of Unknowing
O Divine Artist,
Paint the fruit of the Spirit
On the canvas of my life,
With brushstrokes of love,
With brushstrokes of joy,
With brushstrokes of peace,
With brushstrokes of patience,
With brushstrokes of kindness,
With brushstrokes of generosity,
With brushstrokes of faithfulness,
With brushstrokes of self-control,
With brushstrokes of divine wisdom,
With brushstrokes of divine mercy.
O Jesus, living in Santa Maria,
I wholeheartedly trust in you!
Live, Jesus!
Amen.