God our Father,
You sent Saint Patrick
to preach Your glory to the people of Ireland.
By the help of his prayers,
may all Christians proclaim Your love to all men.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
God of times and seasons,
you have brought us again to Lent
for the study of Your Word,
for the remembrance of the temptation of Your Son,
and for the contemplation of His Cross.
The birds know their seasons;
forbid that we be blind to our times.
Grant us a Lenten blessing,
and may no one miss this time of growth.
Even though I can be so proud,
You humbled Yourself on a cross for me.
Even though I can be so selfish,
You rose to share Your life with me.
A love so great, so deep!
A heart so humble, so generous!
Lord, Your apostle, Paul, once said:
"If we suffer with Christ,
we shall also be glorified with Him.
Therefore whoever participates in the sufferings of our Redeemer
enjoys the sure and certain hope of the glory He has promised."
Lord, God all-powerful,
accept our poor prayers
and stretch out your powerful hand to defend us.
Favor our home, Lord, with your presence.
May it repulse all the wiles of Satan.
May Your holy angels live here, to keep us in peace.
And may your blessing remain always upon us.
This we ask of you through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Lord, like the lilies that fill our senses
with their pure fragrance,
so fill us with Your pure gifts.
Fill our hearts with Your peace,
the peace only You can give,
the peace of pure holiness;
Fill our minds with all
that is good and pure,
all that is noble and just.
Chile is a country that has its beauty in so many diverse ways that for the two years I had journeyed with the Columbans there I realized there is more to learn about mission then just going out and preaching the Gospel to the people.
Convert us, O God our salvation,
and that the Lenten fast may be of profit to us,
instruct our minds with Heavenly discipline.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
world without end.
Amen.
During the season of lent,
we begin to realize anew that these are the days of salvation
We know that we are all sinners.
We know that in many things we have all offended Your infinite majesty.
We know that sin destroys Your life in us.
Help us now, Lord,
in our feeble attempts to make up for past sin.
O gracious Master,
infuse in our hearts
the spotless light of Your Divine Wisdom
and open the eyes of our mind
that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel.
Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments,
so that having curbed all carnal desires,
we may lead a spiritual life,
both thinking and doing everything to please You.