Blessed be God/Devotions For The Days Of The Week
DEVOTIONS FOR THE DAYS OF THE WEEK
SUNDAY
The Most Blessed Trinity
ANT. Blessed be the holy Creator and Ruler of all things, the sacred and undivided Trinity, now and always, through infinite ages of ages.
- V. Let us bless the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
- R. Let us praise and exalt Him forever.
Let us Pray
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, Who hast given Thy servants, in the confession of the true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and, in the power of Thy majesty, to adore the Unity, we beseech Thee that, by steadfastness in the same faith, we may always be defended from all adversities. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Trinity
O POWER of the Father, support my weakness and deliver me from the abyss of my misery; O wisdom of the Son, do thou direct all my thoughts, words, and works; O love of the Holy Ghost, penetrate all the operations of my soul so that they may be ever in harmony with Thy divine pleasure.
(Ind. of 200 days, once a day. — Leo XIII. March 15, 1890.)
The Canticle of the Seraphim
HOLY, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts! the heavens and the earth are full of Thy glory. Glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Ghost.
(Ind. of 100 days, once a day; three times every Sunday and during the octave of the festival of the Most Holy Trinity. — Clement XIV. June 26, 1770.)
MONDAY
The Souls in Purgatory
ANT. I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in Me, even though he die, shall live; and every one that liveth and believeth in Me shall not die forever.
- V. I heard a voice from heaven saying to me.
- R. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
Let us Pray
O GOD, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that through pious supplication they may obtain the pardon they have ever wished for. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Ejaculation
LORD, give unto them eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
(Ind. of 300 days, each time, for the souls in Purgatory. — Pius X. Feb. 13, 1908.)
TUESDAY
The Holy Angels
ANT. Angels, Archangels, Thrones and Dominations, Principalities and Powers, Virtues of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, bless the Lord forever.
- V. All ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
- R. Sing a hymn and exalt Him above all forever.
Let us Pray
O GOD, Who in a wonderful manner dost distribute the ministries of angels and of men, mercifully grant that as Thy holy angels ever wait upon Thee to do Thee service in heaven, so our lives may be defended by them upon earth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Invocation of the Nine Choirs of Angels
O HOLY Angels, watch over us at all times during this perilous life; holy Archangels, be our guides on the way to heaven; O heavenly choir of the Principalities, govern us in soul and body; O mighty Powers, preserve us against the wiles of the demons; O celestial Virtues, give us strength and courage in the battle of life; O powerful Dominations, obtain for us dominion over the rebellion of our flesh; O sacred Thrones, grant us peace with God and man; O brilliant Cherubim, illumine our minds with heavenly knowledge; O burning Seraphim, enkindle in our hearts the fire of charity. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
'St. Joseph
ANT. In whatever tribulation they shall cry to me, I will hear them and be their protector always.
- V. Obtain for us, O Joseph, to lead an innocent life.
- R. And may it ever be safe through thy
patronage.
Let us Pray
O GOD, Who in Thine unspeakable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother, mercifully grant that, as we venerate him for our protector on earth, we may deserve to be aided by his intercession in heaven. Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.
The Memorare to St. Joseph
REMEMBER most pure spouse of Mary ever Virgin, my loving protector St. Joseph, that never has it been heard that anyone ever invoked thy protection, or besought aid of thee, without being consoled. In this confidence I come before thee, I fervently recommend myself to thee. Despise not my prayer, foster-father of our Redeemer, but do thou in thy pity receive it. Amen.
(Ind. of 300 days, once a day. — Pius IX. June 26, 1863.)
Prayer to St. Joseph
GUARDIAN of virgins, and holy father Joseph, to whose faithful custody Christ Jesus, Innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed, I pray and beseech thee, by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that being preserved from all uncleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart and chaste body, ever serve Jesus and Mary most chastely all the days of my life. Amen.
(Ind. of 100 days, once a day. — Pius IX. Feb. 4, 1877.)
THURSDAY
The Most Blessed Sacrament
ANT. O sacred banquet in which Christ is received, the memory of His Passion is recalled, the soul is filled with grace, and the pledge of future glory is given us.
- V. Thou hast given them Bread from heaven.
- R. Containing all manner of sweetness.
Let us Pray
O GOD, Who hast left us, in this wonderful Sacrament, a perpetual memorial of Thy Passion, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to reverence the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood that we may ever find in our souls the fruit of Thy Redemption, Who livest and reignest, forever and ever. Amen.
Ave Verum Corpus Natum
HAIL to Thee! true Body, sprung
From the Virgin Mary’s womb!
The same that on the cross was hung,
And bore for man the bitter doom!
Thou, Whose side was pierced, and flow’d
Both with Water and with Blood;
Suffer us to taste of Thee,
In our life’s last agony.
Son of Mary, Jesu blest!
Sweetest, gentlest, holiest!
Sing, My Tongue
(Pange Lingua)
SING, my tongue, the Saviour’s glory,
Of His Flesh, the mystery sing;
Of His Blood, all price exceeding,
Shed by our immortal King,
Destin’d for the world’s redemption
From a noble womb to spring.
Of a pure and spotless Virgin
Born for us on earth below,
He, as man with man conversing,
Stay’d the seeds of truth to sow;
Then He closed in solemn order
Wondrously His life of woe.
On the night of that Last Supper,
Seated with His chosen band,
He the paschal victim eating,
First fulfills the Lord’s command;
Then as food to all His brethren,
Gives Himself with His own hand.
Word made Flesh, the bread of nature
By His word to Flesh He turns;
Wine into His Blood He changes;
What though sense no change discerns!
Only be the heart in earnest,
Faith her lessons quickly learns.
Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail!
Lo! o’er ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feebler senses fail.
To the everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high,
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty. Amen.
FRIDAY
The Passion of Christ
ANT. O all ye who pass by the way, attend and see if there is any sorrow like unto my sorrow.
- V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
- R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Let us Pray
O LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who at the sixth hour didst mount the gibbet of the cross for the Redemption of the world and didst shed Thy Precious Blood that our sins might be washed away, we humbly beseech Thee that after our death Thou wouldst suffer us to pass with joy through the gates of heaven. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
O GOD, Who to redeem the world didst vouchsafe to be born amongst men, to be circumcised, rejected by the Jews, betrayed by the traitor Judas with a kiss, to be bound with cords, and as an innocent lamb to be led to the slaughter; Who didst suffer Thyself to be shamelessly exposed to the gaze of Annas, Caiphas, Pilate and Herod; to be accused by false witnesses, tormented by scourges and insults, crowned with thorns, smitten with blows, defiled with spittings, to have Thy divine countenance covered, to be struck with a reed, to be stripped of Thy clothes, nailed to and raised high upon a Cross between two thieves, to be given gall and vinegar to drink, and then pierced with a lance; do Thou, O Lord, by these most sacred sufferings, which I, unworthy as I am, yet dare to contemplate, by Thy holy Cross and by Thy bitter Death, free me from the pains of hell, and vouchsafe to bring me to Paradise, whither Thou didst lead the thief who was crucified with Thee, my Jesus, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God forever and ever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc., five times.
(Ind. of 300 days. — Pius VII. Aug. 25, 1820.)
Invocation of St. Thomas Aquinas
THE cross is my sure salvation; the cross I ever adore; the cross of my Lord is with me; the cross is my refuge.
(Ind. of 300 days, once a day. — Pius IX. Jan. 21, 1874.)
SATURDAY
The Blessed Virgin Mary
ANT. O glorious Mother of God, Mary, ever virgin, who alone wast found worthy to bear the Lord of all, and though a virgin, to nurse the King of angels; be graciously mindful of us, we beseech thee, and pray to Christ for us, that we, being upheld by thy care, may deserve to attain to the heavenly kingdom.
- V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ.
- R. Hear thy humble servants who implore thee.
Let us Pray
GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy continual health of mind and body; and that through the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, we may be delivered from present sorrow, and hereafter enjoy eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Inviolata
THOU art inviolate, undefiled and chaste, O Mary.
Thou hast been made the resplendent gate of heaven,
O loving and dearest Mother of Christ,
Accept our devout acclamations in praise of thee.
That our minds and bodies may be pure,
Devoted hearts and lips now implore thee.
Through thy sweet sounding prayers,
Gain us pardon forever.
O kind one, who alone didst remain inviolate.
The Memorare
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions; but in thy clemency hear and answer me.
(Ind. of 300 days, each time. — Pius IX. Dec. 11, 1846.)