Devotions

Stay with us, Lord
“Stay with us, Lord, for it is almost evening" (cf. Lk 24:29).  This was the insistent invitation that the two disciples journeying to Emmaus on the evening of the day of the resurrection addressed to the Wayfarer who had accompanied them on their journey.  Weighed down with sadness, they never imagined that this stranger was none other than their Master, risen from the dead.  Yet they felt their hearts burning within them as he spoke to them and “explained” the Scriptures.  The light of the Word unlocked the hardness of their hearts and “opened their eyes”.  Amid the shadows of the passing day and the darkness that clouded their spirit, the Wayfarer brought a ray of light which rekindled their hope and led their hearts to yearn for the fullness of light.  “Stay with us”, they pleaded.  And he agreed. Soon afterwards, Jesus’ face would disappear, yet the Master would “stay” with them, hidden in the “breaking of the bread” which had opened their eyes to recognize him.   (Pope John Paul II, Mane Nobiscum Domine, 2004)

Everyone is encouraged to come and spend some quiet time in the presence of our Lord.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held weekly, Thursday from 11:00 am - 12:00 noon and the first Saturday of every month, beginning with Mass in German at 8:00 am and followed by Adoration until 12:00 noon..

Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is recited every Thursday at 11:50 am and Friday at 7:50 am.

The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday after daily Mass.

Catholic Prayers

The Lord's Prayer
The Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Act of Contrition
The Angelus
The Regina Cœli
Prayers For Priests
Resurrection Prayer
Stay With Me Lord
A Litany of the Resurrection (I)
A Litany of the Resurrection (II)

 

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.  Amen.     (return to top)

The Hail Mary
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.     (return to top)

The Glory Be
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning
is now, and ever shall be
world without end.  Amen.     (return to top)

Act of Contrition
O my God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with the help of your grace,
to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In His name, O my God, have mercy.  Amen.     (return to top)

The Angelus
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

The Regina Cœli
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
The Son whom you merited to bear, alleluia,
has risen as he said, alleluia.

Prayers for Priests
Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord,
keep them, for they are Thine.
Thy priests whose lives burn out
before Thy consecrated shrine.

Keep them, for they are in the world,
though from the world apart;
When earthy pleasures tempt, allure
shelter them in Thy heart.

Keep them, and comfort them
in hours of loneliness and pain,
when all their life of sacrifice
for souls seems but in vain.

Keep them, and O remember, Lord,
they have no one but Thee,
Yet they have only human hearts,
with human frailty.

Keep them as spotless as the Host,
that daily they caress;
their every thought and word and deed,
Deign dearest Lord, to bless. Amen.     (return to top)
by D. Cardinal Dougherty, Philadelphia

LORD JESUS CHRIST,
eternal high priest,
you offered yourself to the Father
on the altar of the Cross
and through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
gave your priestly people a share in your redeeming sacrifice.

Hear our prayer for the sanctification of our priests.
Grant that all who are ordained to the ministerial priesthood
may by ever more conformed to you,
the divine Master.
May they preach the Gospel with pure heart and clear conscience.

Let them be shepherds according to your own Heart,
single-minded in service to you and to the Church
and shining examples of a holy, simple and joyful life.
Through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
your Mother and ours, draw all priests
and the flocks entrusted to their care
to the fullness of eternal life
where you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.     (return to top)
by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Resurrection Prayer
O Risen Lord,
the way, the truth and the life,
make us faithful followers
of the spirit of your Resurrection.

This we ask of you, Lord Jesus,
living and reigning with the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever.  Amen.     (return to top)
by Father Grzechowiak

Stay With Me Lord
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You.
You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength,
that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You,
a nest of Love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes,
death, judgment and eternity approaches.  It is necessary to renew my strength,
so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You.
It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness,
the cross, the sorrows.  O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.
Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the
Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness,
the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You,
if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will,
Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love
You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love
You perfectly during all eternity.  Amen.     (return to top).

A Litany of the Resurrection (I)
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.

Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven:  Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world:  Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit:  Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God:  Have mercy on us.

Response to the following invocations:  ALLELUIA!
1.    Risen Lord, handed over to death for our sins, and raised up for our justification (Rom 14:9) - ALLELUIA!
2.    Risen Lord, who died and came to life again that you might be Lord of both the living and the dead (Rom 14:9) - ALLELUIA!
3.    Risen Lord, established as Son of God in power by the Resurrection from the dead (Rom 1:4) - ALLELUIA!
4.    Risen Lord, fulfillment of prophecy and foundation of our faith (Acts 3:11f; 1 Cor 15) - ALLELUIA!
5.    Risen Lord, stone rejected by the builders which has become the cornerstone (Acts 4:11) - ALLELUIA!
6.    Risen Lord, in whom all things are made new and we become a new creation (Rev 21:5, 2 Cor 5:17) - ALLELUIA!
7.    Risen Lord, first fruits of the dead and promise of our resurrection (1 Cor 15:21) - ALLELUIA!
8.    Risen Lord, in whom it pleased God to make all fullness reside (Col 1:19) - ALLELUIA!

Response to the following invocations:  GRANT US YOUR PEACE!
9.    Risen Lord, who entered heaven to appear now before the Father on our behalf (Heb 9:24; Rom 8:34) - GRANT US YOUR PEACE!
10.  Risen Lord, in whom God has reconciled us to himself, granting us repentance, and the forgiveness of our sins (2 Cor 5:18ff) - GRANT US YOUR PEACE!
11.  Risen Lord, through whom we have access to the Father in one Spirit (Eph 2:18) - GRANT US YOUR PEACE!
12.  Risen Lord, receiving from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33) - GRANT US YOUR PEACE!
13.  Risen Lord, who will come again in power to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) - GRANT US YOUR PEACE!
14.  Risen Lord, cause and exemplar of our resurrection (1 Cor 15) - GRANT US YOUR PEACE!
15.  Risen Lord, with power to raise to eternal life all who believe in you (Jn 11:25) - GRANT US YOUR PEACE!
16.  Risen Lord, the Way, the Truth, and the Life fro all who believe in you (Jn 14:6) - GRANT US YOUR PEACE!

The response to the following invocations is:  RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!
17.  Risen Lord, who in your love for the penitent sinners appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:11ff) - RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!
18.  Risen Lord, who in your love for all men and women sent the apostles to preach the Gospel to the whole world (Mt 28:18f) - RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!
19.  Risen Lord, in whom we become true children of God and heirs of heaven (Rom 8:14f) - RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!
20.  Risen Lord, present and active among us in your body the Church (Eph 4) - RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!
21.  Risen Lord, calling us by your resurrection to rise form the death to sin (1 Pt 1:3; Rom 5:6f) - RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!
22.  Risen Lord, in whom we are established in liberty as children of God (Gal 5:13) - RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!
23.  Risen Lord, in whom we become a dwelling place for God in the spirit (Eph 2:22) - RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!
24.  Risen Lord, in whom we experience genuine community with all who are members of one body (Rom 12:5) - RAISE US TO NEW LIFE!

The response to the following invocations is:  SEND US YOUR SPIRIT
25.  Risen Lord, opening our minds to understand all the words spoken about you in the Scripture (Lk 24:25) - SEND US YOUR SPIRIT!
26.  Risen Lord, revealing yourself to your disciples in the breaking of the bread, and to us in Holy Eucharist (Lk 24:30f) - SEND US YOUR SPIRIT!
27.  Risen Lord, you invite us to relive your Paschal Mystery each time we celebrate the Eucharist (1 Cor 11) - SEND US YOUR SPIRIT!
28.  Risen Lord, in whom we are transformed, to share the life and the glory of heaven (2 Cor 3:18) - SEND US YOUR SPIRIT!
29.  Risen Lord, in and with you we experience victory over the death of fear and anxiety that is involved in each new growth experience of our lives (2 Cor 2:14) -        SEND US YOUR SPIRIT!
30.  Risen Lord, whose victory over death offers encouragement to all who suffer for justice's sake (1 Pt 3) - SEND US YOUR SPIRIT!
31.  Risen Lord, in whom we find the surest means for the resurrection of society (1 Cor 15:16f) - SEND US YOUR SPIRIT!
32.  Risen Lord, in whom we are already raised up to live now no longer for ourselves but for God (Gal 2:20) - SEND US YOUR SPIRIT!

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world! SPARE US, O LORD!
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world!  GRACIOUSLY HEAR US, O LORD!
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world!  HAVE MERCY ON US!

V.  Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.
R.  You are the Saviour of the world!

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, in raising up your Son Jesus Christ from the grave, you have raised up the hopes of this fallen world.  In spite of the many problems in our world today, in spite of our own serious problems, your power will finally triumph.  We rejoice in the grace of Christ's Resurrection, and thank you for this wonderful gift.  May it transform our lives, and bring us to eternal life.  Amen.

OR:  Heavenly Father, you have made the whole world to rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ your Son, and in the new life you offer us in him.  We know, and we acknowledge that faith in Christ's Resurrection is a gift from you - a gift obtained by those who pray for it.  Hear our prayer!  Give us a strong and living faith in the power of Christ's Resurrection, the power by which you save us.  Amen.     (return to top)

A Litany of the Resurrection (II)
Optional opening invocations:    1.    Risen Lord
                                                2.    Risen Jesus
                                                3.    Risen Saviour
                                                4.    Jesus, our Resurrection

Optional responses:  1.    Have mercy on us
                                2.    Transform our lives
                                3.    Raise us to new life
                                4.    Renew your Spirit in us
                                5.    Fill us with your love
                                6.    Make us one with you

INTRODUCTION:
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy

Christ hear us
Christ graciously hear us

God the Father of heaven
Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the world
Have mercy on us

God the Holy Spirit
Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God
Have mercy on us

SUNDAY
1.    __________ You are the living hope of God's mercy and the guarantee of our salvation __________.
2.    __________ You bring us new life in Baptism, in which our sins are forgiven, and we are established as children of God __________.
3.    __________ You transform us even now as we share the spiritual life and glory of heaven here on earth __________.
4.    __________ You invite us to relive your Paschal Mystery in every Eucharist as you nourish us with the spiritual bread of your own glorified body__________.
5.    __________ You share your triumph over death with us as we overcome fear and anxiety in each new experience of growth in our life __________.

MONDAY
1.    __________ established as Son of God by your resurrection from the dead __________.
2.    __________ reflection of the Father's glory and exalted above the angels __________.
3.    __________ first of the Father's life-giving works in the new creation __________.
4.    __________ whom the Father has made both Lord and Christ to pour forth the Spirit upon us __________.
5.    __________ in whose victory death and sin are swallowed up __________.

TUESDAY
1.    __________ Firstborn from the dead, that in all things you may have the first place __________.
2.    __________ Prince and Saviour, exalted by God to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins __________.
3.    __________ temple not built by hands, in whom God has set up his dwelling among us __________.
4.    __________ stone rejected by the builders which has become the cornerstone __________.
5.    __________ the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all who believe in you __________.

WEDNESDAY
1.    __________ who in your love for penitent sinners appeared first to Mary Magdalene __________.
2.    __________ who in your love for all men and women sent the apostles to preach the Gospel to the whole world __________.
3.    __________ who will refashion our bodies, conforming them to your own risen body by the power of the Holy Spirit __________.
4.    __________ who revealed himself to his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and continue to do the same for us in the Eucharist __________.
5.    __________ who enables us to resurrect daily as we put off the old man and put on the new __________.

THURSDAY
1.    __________ in whom God has reconciled us to himself and given us the ministry of reconciliation __________.
2.    __________ in whom all things are made new, and we have become a new creation __________.
3.    __________ in whom we experience true community with all who are members of one body, by faith, and by your Spirit __________.
4.    __________ in whom we are already raised up in order that we may live no longer for ourselves but for God __________.
5.    __________ in whom we find the surest means for the resurrection of society __________.

FRIDAY
1.    __________ whose victory over death gives encouragement to those who suffer for justice's sake __________.
2.    __________ whose life is made manifest in our mortal flesh as we become children of God and heirs of heaven __________.
3.    __________ whose presence we experience in the Church, which is your body __________.
4.    __________ whose ascension into heaven provides us with an intercessor before the Father __________.
5.    __________ whose coming again to judge the living and dead we await in hope __________.

SATURDAY
1.    __________ you died and rose again to become Lord both of the living and the dead __________.
2.    __________ you are the first fruits of the dead and the promise of our resurrection __________.
3.    __________ you are the fulfillment of all prophecy, the foundation of our faith, the exemplar and cause of our resurrection __________.
4.    __________ you raise up to eternal life all who believe in you __________.
5.    __________ you open our minds to understand all the words that are spoken about you in the Scriptures __________.

CONCLUSION:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord!

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord!

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us!

V.    Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.
R.    You are the Saviour of the world!

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, you have made the whole world to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ your Son, and in the new life you offer us in him.  We know, and we acknowledge, that faith in Christ's resurrection is a gift from you, a gift obtained by those who pray for it.  Hear our prayer.  Give us a strong and living faith in the power of Christ's resurrection, the power by which you save us.  Amen.

OR:  Heavenly Father, in raising up your Son Jesus from the grave, you have raised up the hopes of this fallen world.  In spite of the acute problems of the world today, and in spite of our own serious problems, your power will finally triumph; for you have said:  "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will also bring to life your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit who dwells in you."  We rejoice in the grace of Christ's resurrection, and thank you for this wonderful gift.  May it transform our lives, and bring us to eternal life.  Amen.

OR:  O Risen Lord, the Way, the Truth, and the Life make us faithful followers of the spirit of your resurrection.  Grant that we may be inwardly renewed, dying to ourselves in order that you may live in us.  May our lives serve as signs of the transforming power of your love.  Use us as your instruments for the renewal of society, bringing your life and your love to all, and leading them to your Church.  This we ask of you, Lord Jesus, living and reigning with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever.  Amen.     (return to top)