Prayers



Prayer is about a relationship; a relationship with the Living God who is our Heavenly Father. Even Jesus during His time on earth prayed to the Father, and He being the Son. This shows us something about prayer that we would do well to take to heart. Even as the Son of God has always been in perfect Oneness with the Father from the beginning, this communion extends to all of His children on earth as well. As Jesus prayed on earth to the Father, we see an example of this communion. It pre-figures the ultimate Communion with God that we are created to share, and be as One even as the Father and the Son are One in the union of the Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed for all of us so that we may partake in this unity in the Holy Spirit and have eternal life. As Jesus prayed even on earth, we see that eternal life begins in this life, and through the heartfelt prayers of the faithful who share in Christ's Life, there are opened a flood gate of graces from the Heavenly Father to help us in whatever way we need, whether to heal, to love, to have peace, and so that in Him our joy may be full, even as He promised.
Let us look up to the same sky, sun, moon and stars as our Lord did when He prayed, as we pray to the same God who created them all. Let us be good and faithful stewards of this world God has created for us, and to each other. This is love, and our ultimate destiny in God, is Perfect Love.


Traditional Catholic Prayers

In the life of the Church, there have come to be many time honored devotions which the faithful have embraced such as the Holy Rosary. Prayer should always come from the heart whether it is spontaneous "informal" prayer or traditionally known prayers shared in common by many. Like poetry or song lyrics, devotional prayers composed by others, can help to inspire us because of the inspiration by which they came to be.



Jesus

A Prayer to Christ the King
The Anima Christi
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy
An Act of Consecration to The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
Litany of the Passion
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus


Mary

Rosary Prayers - Some traditional prayers commonly said following the Rosary.
The Holy Rosary - A brief history about the Rosary and links to
the Scriptural Rosary in both English and Irish (Gaeilge).
Magnificat
Angelus
Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
Memorare
Hail Mary of Gold
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary


Saints

Breastplate of Saint Patrick


Paidreacha as Gaeilge [Prayers in Irish]

I've collected the following prayers from different sources. Some of these are traditional Roman Catholic prayers and others I got from the book "Ár bPaidreacha Dúchais", compiled by Jesuit priest, Father Diarmuid Ó Laoghaire, S.J. The book is a treasure of traditional prayers and blessings of the Irish folk prayer tradition. Although the authorship of these prayers is not known nor the exact dates they were composed, many come out of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries according to John J Ó Ríordáin, in his book "Irish Cathlic Spirituality". I had looked extensively for a good book of traditional Irish folk prayers in the Irish language and was told about "Ár bPaidreacha Dúchais". When I had inquired about it through a certain educational institution in Ireland, I happened to get a response from a man who knew the good Fr. himself. So he says to Fr. Ó Laoghaire, that there is a man in the US interested in his book. Well, I don't know exactly what all he said to Fr. Ó Laoghaire, but then I get the response saying that he intends to send me the book. "But what about the cost?", I asked him. And then I was told he intends to give it to me. So not long after, I receive this book in the mail, with a note from Fr. Ó Loaghaire; "Dear Seoirse, I make you a present of this. D.O.L" (Seoirse being the Irish spelling of the name George).
Needless to say this book is quite special to me and I have kept that note in the book ever since. I wanted to include some of the prayers from this book for educational purposes, and to share some of the wealth of Irish spirituality.


Paidreacha na Maidine [Morning Prayers]

Ar Fheiceáil na Gréine - Seeing the sun


An tAifreann [The Mass]

Ag dul go dtí an tAifreann [Going to Mass]

Coróin Rí an Domhnaigh - King of the Blessed Sunday
Fíor na Croise - [The Sign of the Cross]
An Chré - [The Nicene Creed]
Ár nAthair - [Our Father]


Paidreacha a ghabhann leis an bPaidrín Páirteach (An Choróin Mhuire) [Prayers that go with the Rosary]

Ofráil an Phaidrín
Tar éis an Phaidrín - [After the Rosary]


Chun Íosa [To Jesus]

Do Chríost - To Christ
Lúireach Pádraig - The Breastplate of St. Patrick - Although this prayer of protection is attributed to St. Patrick, insofar as it is he who is said to have composed it, it is a prayer to Jesus for His protection, therefore I include it here as a prayer to Christ Himself.


Chun Muire [To Mary]

Tá Dia láidir agus tá máthair mhaith aige. [God is strong and has a good mother.]

Sé do bheatha, a Mhuire - [Hail Mary]
Liodán na Maighdine Muire - [Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary]
An Magnificat
Fáilte an Aingil - [The Angelus]
An Memorare - [Memorare]


Chun na Naomh [To the Saints]

Do Mhicheál Naofa - [To St. Michael]
Chun Bríde Naofa - [To St. Brigid]
Oíche Na Féile Bríde - [St. Brigid's Eve] - Saint Bríd is one of the most beloved Saints of Ireland born in (--- A.D). Her Feast Day is February 2, the day which marks the first stirrings of Spring. This beautiful prayer in her honor may be said before the eating of the evening meal on that day.


Beannachtaí agus Guíonna [Blessings and Prayers]

Altú Roimh Bhia [Grace before meals]

Altú Roimh Bhia




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