Pray it Off 3/28/13 Prayers and Devotions, Thank You God, Anima Christi

Prayers And Devotions
(http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers/)

The raising of one's mind and heart to God in thanksgiving and in praise of his glory. It can also include the requesting of good things from God. It is an act by which one enters into awareness of a loving communion with God. "Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God" (CCC, no. 2561).
—From the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Descriptions of prayer are abundant throughout Christian history. "True prayer," wrote St. Augustine, "is nothing but love." Prayer should arise from the heart. "Prayer," said St. John Vianney, "is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.""Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer each day," remarked St. Francis de Sales, "except when we are busy—then we need an hour." Definitions of prayer are important, but insufficient. There is a huge difference between knowing about prayer and praying. On this issue, the Rule of St. Benedict is clear, "If a man wants to pray, let him go and pray."

St. John Damascene gave a classic definition of prayer: "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God" (CCC, no. 2559, citing St. John Damascene, De Fide Orth. 3, 24).

The Catechism clearly defines prayer as a "vital and personal relationship with the living and true God" (CCC, no. 2558). Prayer is Christian "insofar as it is communion with Christ" (CCC, no. 2565), and a "covenant relationship between God and man in Christ" (CCC, no. 2564).

Devotions

Popular devotions are expressions of love and fidelity that arise from the intersection of one’s own faith, culture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Blessed John Paul II said in 2001:

"Genuine forms of popular piety, expressed in a multitude of different ways, derives from the faith and, therefore, must be valued and promoted. Such authentic expressions of popular piety are not at odds with the centrality of the Sacred Liturgy.

Rather, in promoting the faith of the people, who regard popular piety as a natural religious expression, they predispose the people for the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries.

"The correct relationship between these two expressions of faith must be based on certain firm principles, the first of which recognizes that the Liturgy is the center of the Church's life and cannot be substituted by, or placed on a par with, any other form of religious expression.

Moreover, it is important to reaffirm that popular religiosity, even if not always evident, naturally culminates in the celebration of the Liturgy towards which it should ideally be oriented. This should be made clear through suitable catechesis" (Address to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, September 21, 2001).

Join with the Church as she expresses her praise and devotion to God through many popular devotional practices. 

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds conceal me.
Do not permit me to be parted from you.
From the evil foe protect me.
At the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come to you,
to praise you with all your saints
for ever and ever.
Amen.

En ego, o bone et dulcissime Iesu
Here,
O good and gentle Jesus,
I kneel before you,
and with all the fervor of my soul
I pray that you engrave within my heart
lively sentiments of faith, hope, and love,
true repentance for my sins,
and a firm purpose of amendment.
While I see and I ponder your five wounds
with great affection and sorrow in my soul,
I have before my eyes those words of yours
that David prophesied about you:
"They have pierced my hands and feet;
I can count all my bones." (Ps 22, 17)
Amen.

Pray it Off 3/28/13 A Step Along The Way and Life Promise Prayer

Archbishop Oscar Romero Prayer: A Step Along The Way

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent
enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of
saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an
opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master
builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.

Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw  *This prayer was composed by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw, drafted for a homily by Card. John Dearden in Nov. 1979 for a celebration of departed priests. As a reflection on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop Romero, Bishop Untener included in a reflection book a passage titled "The mystery of the Romero Prayer." The mystery is that the words of the prayer are attributed to Oscar Romero, but they were never spoken by him.

Life Promise Prayer

In the name of the One God, ever living and life giving,
faithful and true, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

I accept God's gift of life to me
     in the circumstances
     of my conception and birth,
     of my parents, of my family,
of all whosoever care for me or did me  
harm in all the years that began the journey        
of my life.
God who calls by name works all together for my good.
     I choose life.

I accept God's gift of life around me,
     the sacred treasure of each human life
     whether sister, brother, friend or stranger;
     however whole or broken, small or great,
     saint or sinner,
     rich or poor, ill or well, ally or enemy, or
     indifferent.

Each is crafted in God's image, to each is offered
Christ's redemption, in each moves the spirits blessing.
      I choose life.

I accept God's gift of life in my times,
     in infant's cry, in childhood's wonder
     in trails of teen years and embrace of youth,
     in maturity's accomplishments and failures,
     in waning day's and night's negotiations.
Among the creatures with the breath of life within them,
God has placed the timeless in the human heart,
but not the reach to grasp or measure it.
     I choose life.

I accept God's gift of life in my dying,
     in God's hands the shaping of the manner
     by God's clock the counting of the hour.

May God who lays me down uphold me.
May Christ along the way companion me.
May spirit lift, and light billow me into the Resurrection.

     God is life, and this I choose.

In the name of the One God, ever living and life giving,
faithful and true, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

By Fr. Richard Meredith, Diocese of Owensboro

Pray it Off 3/28/13 Prayer for Difficult Economic Times and Victims of Abuse

Prayer During Difficult Economic Times

Gracious God, 

We know that your love is infinite and that you care about all areas of our life.
In this time of economic insecurity, help us to trust that all of our security is in you.
Keep us mindful that you always have and always will provide for our needs.
Apart from you we can do nothing. 

Merciful God,
We ask that you give our leaders the wisdom to guide our nation and the world
out of the current economic crisis.
Help us to protect the poor and all those who are struggling during this difficult time.
Provide for their needs and give them hope.
Open new opportunities for them and furnish the resources they need to live with dignity.  Encourage those who have enough to share essential resources
with those who lack the necessities of life,
and to do so with humble, grateful and loving hearts. 

We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.  Amen.

Prayer For Healing Victims Of Abuse

God of endless love,
ever caring, ever strong,
always present, always just:
You gave your only Son
to save us by the blood of his cross.

Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,
join to your own suffering
the pain of all who have been hurt
in body, mind, and spirit
by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.

Hear our cries as we agonize
over the harm done to our brothers and sisters.
Breathe wisdom into our prayers,
soothe restless hearts with hope,
steady shaken spirits with faith:
Show us the way to justice and wholeness,
enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy.

Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,
heal your people’s wounds
and transform our brokenness.
Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace,
so that we may act with justice
and find peace in you.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Pray it Off 3/28/13 Weight Loss and Stewardship Prayers

Daily Prayers for Your Weight Loss Journey

http://www.cyberrecovery.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14307

Show Me the Path

Dear God,
I admit that I have come to both love and hate the word "diet."
On the one hand, it represents hope for change.
On the other, it's like a sign flashing "Failure ahead!"
I don't want to embark on another faulty plan, Lord.
I want to embark on a journey with You
that is led by You and depends on Your power.
I can do nothing on my own!
Show me the path that will enable me to change.
Show me, as only You can,
what works for me, what is healthy for me.
I want to think of this venture in positive terms, Lord--
not that I am signing up to be miserable or in want.
I want to learn to feed my body what it truly needs when it truly needs it.
And to feed my soul with the Bread of Life--You!
Today I place my future, my failures, my setbacks,
all of my hopes and plans into Your hands.
There alone will I find meaning
and true success in my life. Amen.

I Praise You for My Body

Dear God,
As You know, some days I wish I looked different than I do.
How good it is to be reminded, Lord,
that You had me--exactly this me--
in mind long before I came to exist!
So today I present myself to You
with a grateful heart.
Help me to be a good steward of my body.
Because You designed it,
I want to celebrate, nurture, and respect it.
By Your power at work in me,
I praise You for every molecule, gene, and freckle! Amen.

Stewardship Prayer

Almighty and ever-faithful Lord,
gratefully acknowledging Your mercy
and humbly admitting our need,
we pledge our trust in You and each other.

Filled with desire,
we respond to Your call for discipleship
by shaping our lives in imitation of Christ.
We profess that the call requires us
to be stewards of Your gifts.
As stewards, we receive Your gifts gratefully,
cherish and tend them in a responsible manner,
share them in practice and love with others,
and return them with increase to the Lord.

We pledge to our ongoing formation as stewards
and our responsibility to call others to that same endeavor.
Almighty and ever-faithful God,
it is our fervent hope and prayer
that You who have begun this good work in us
will bring it to fulfillment in Jesus Christ,
our Lord. Amen

Pray it Off 3/28/13 Prayers and Prayer to St. Marianne Cope

PRAYER FOR THE SICK

Father of goodness and love; hear our prayers for the sick members of our community and for all who are in need. Amid mental and physical suffering may they find consolation in your healing presence. Show your mercy as you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free downcast spirits. May these special people find lasting health and deliverance, and so join us in thanking you for all your gifts. We ask this through the Lord Jesus who healed those who believed. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR CONTROL OF ANGER

 

O Lord, must I fear Your wrath? Retribution is Yours by right! May I never dishonor Your Divinity, My soul seeking to maintain Your love. Shape my being into earnest kindness, A reflection of Your perfection. Grant me the grace of self-control, That I may not display any anger. Should I have such an outburst, Instantly remind me to seek redress, For such is offensive to You. Anger is Yours alone to avenge!

A PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE

 

Lord Jesus, may everything I do begin with You, continue with Your help, and be done under Your guidance. May my sharing in the Mass free me from my sins, and make me worthy of Your healing. May I grow in Your Love and Your service, and become a pleasing offering to You; and with You to Your Father. May the mystery I celebrate help me to reach eternal life with you.

A PRAYER FOR SELF-MOTIVATION

 

Omnipotent God, vitality of life, Your strength supplies my motivation. I am stirred in the path of Your Will. Maintain my self-motivation to always Search, find, examine, will and act Upon the truths placed before me. May I become a driving force for others, Encouraging them to pick up their crosses And follow the virtuous road of life. I thank You for Your continued vigor That coexists in my whole being, My soul, my spirit and by body!

A PRAYER FOR TEMPERANCE

 

Jesus, You practiced temperance; You were the Model of self-restraint, Never over-indulging in the temporal. My body being the Temple of the Lord, I must treat it with ongoing respect. Self-abuse destroys the body; Be it alcohol, drugs, or excess food. Lord Jesus, bestow fortitude upon me For my soul to control my body, To practice the virtue of temperance. Jesus, You are the source of my vigor. Through You, all is possible!

A PRAYER IN TIME OF DISTRESS

 

I shall walk through dark valleys, I fear no harm for you are at my side. Your rod and staff shall give me courage, No evil shall befall me, No weakness in my stride. 
God wills not my foot to slip Or my guardian sleep, He guides me from all evil,
The Lord is my guardian; The Lord the shade I keep, By day the sun cannot harm me Or the moon by night. 

For the Lord said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled, Have faith in God and also in me. In my Father's house There are many dwelling places. If there were not, Would I have told you That I am going to prepare A place for you?

 
And if I go And prepare a place for you, I will come back again And take you to myself, So that where I am You also may be." 
If the Lord is with us, Who can be against us?

PRAYER FOR EMPLOYMENT

God, our Father, I turn to you seeking your divine help and guidance as I look for suitable employment. I need your wisdom to guide my footsteps along the right path, and to lead me to find the proper things to say and do in this quest. I wish to use the gifts and talents you have given me, but I need the opportunity to do so with gainful employment.

Do not abandon me, dear Father, in this search, but rather grant me this favor I seek so that I may return to you with praise and thanksgiving for your gracious assistance. Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A Guardian Angel Prayer for Friends

 

Guardian Angel, watch over those whose names you can read in my heart.
Guard over them with every care
and make their way easy and their labors fruitful.
Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys;
raise their courage if they weaken;
restore their hope if they lose heart,
their health if they be ill,
truth if they err,
repentance if they fail.

Prayer to
St. Marianne Cope

Lord Jesus, you who gave us your commandment of love of God and neighbor, and identified yourself in a special way with the most needy of your people, hear our prayer. Faithful to your teaching, St. Marianne Cope loved and served her neighbor, especially the most desolate outcast, giving herself generously and heroically for those afflicted by leprosy. She alleviated their physical and spiritual sufferings, thus helping them to accept their afflictions with patience. Her care and concern for others manifested the great love you have for us. Through her merits and intercession, grant us the favor which we confidently ask of you so that the people of God, following the inspiration of her life and apostolate, may practice charity towards all according to your word and example. Amen.

Through the intercession of St. Marianne Cope, I ask for the grace of (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Pray it Off 3/28/13 Holy Thursday Song - Were You There Sung by Tatiana

Pray it Off 3/14/13 Portion Control Tips for Dieters

7 Portion Control Tips For Dieters – FitDay.com

Portion Control and Weight Loss    (From Webmd.com)

Making Sense of Portion Sizes From mealsmatter.org

Pray it Off 3/14/13 Wellness Coaches on Portion Control

Pray it Off 3/14/13 How to Tame Your Salt Habit

Sodium: How to tame your salt habit now By Mayo Clinic staff

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Original Article:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sodium/NU00284

20 Minutes to a Healthier You, Really! By Cory Birkett
http://www.fyiliving.com/health/fitness/20-minutes-to-a-new-you/

Pray it Off 3/14/13 Happy St. Patrick's Day - When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Sung by the Irish Tenors

Pray it Off 3/7/13 Stay Away From the Fridge

Stay Away from the Fridge

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/stay-away-from-the-fridge

WebMD Feature from "Good Housekeeping" Magazine By Hallie Levine Sklar

Pray it Off 3/7/13 Fat-Fighting Foods

Fat-Fighting Foods

http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-fat-fighting-foods

Pray it Off 3/7/13 Fat-Fighting Foods Discussion, Walking, Cauliflower

Ladies Who Walked it Off

http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-tips/walk-your-butt

Roasted Cauliflower in Red Wine Vinaigrette

Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

Serves 4

1. Whisk together 1 1/2 Tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tsp minced garlic, and 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard. Whisk in 1 1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Stir in 3 Tbsp chopped parsley and 2 Tbsp chopped capers.

2. Toss 5 cups cauliflower florets with 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil on sheet pan. Roast in 450°F oven in single layer, stirring once, until golden brown, about 22 minutes. Toss with vinaigrette.

Nutrition (per serving) 117 cal, 3 g pro, 7 g carb, 3 g fiber, 9 g fat, 1.5 g sat fat, 250 mg sodium

Read more: http://www.prevention.com/food/cook/2-tasty-cauliflower-recipes#ixzz2MOV3T12P

Pray it Off 3/7/13 - Song - Healer of My Soul by John Michael Talbot

Healer of My Soul by John Michael Talbot

Healer of my soul
Keep me at even'
Heal me at morning
Heal me at noon
Healer of my soul

Keeper of my soul
On rough course faring
Help and safeguard my means this night
Keeper of my soul

I am tired, astray, and stumbling
Shield my soul from the snare of sin

Healer of my soul
Heal me at even'
Heal me at morning
Heal me at noon
Healer of my soul 

Heal me at morning
Heal me at noon
Healer of my soul

Pray it Off 2/28/13 Psalm 32 and Food Addiction

PSALM 32
Remission of Sin

1 Blessed is the one whose fault is removed, whose sin is forgiven. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 Because I kept silent,* my bones wasted away; I groaned all day long.b 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength withered as in dry summer heat. 5 Then I declared my sin to you; my guilt I did not hide.c I said, “I confess my transgression to the LORD,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. 6 Therefore every loyal person should pray to you in time of distress. Though flood waters* threaten, they will never reach him.d 7 You are my shelter; you guard me from distress; with joyful shouts of deliverance you surround me. 8 I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel with my eye upon you. 9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding; with bit and bridle their temper is curbed, else they will not come to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked one, but mercy surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; exult, all you upright of heart.

Food Addiction http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-food-addiction

Pray It Off 2/28/13 3 Reasons Why "I Can't Control My Appetite"

3 Reasons Why “I Can’t Control My Appetite” http://foodaddictions.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/3-reasons-why-i-cant-control-my-appetite/

Pray it Off 2/28/13 Food Addiction, Walking in Place and Prayers

Overeaters Anonymous: One Food Addict's Spiritual Cure By Anonymous Oprah.com | From the August 2005 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

Prayers for Those Suffering With Addictions http://www.2heartsnetwork.org/addiction.htm

Litany of Saint Dymphna http://www.2heartsnetwork.org/Dymphna.htm

How to Walk in Place for Weight Loss By Alison Sperry, eHow Contributor http://www.ehow.com/print/how_7849768_walk-place-weight-loss.html

Pray it Off 2/28/13 Song - Shine Jesus Shine