Dear All
I found out today that my elderly mother is severally ill. She has had heart surgery and is suffering from neurological difficulties as well.
Before you feel sympathy, you should know that this is not a loving daughter asking for prayers for a loving mother. My mother destroyed our family through years of sustained cruelty and abuse. She is in fact my worst enemy.
To be a true Christian I have to pray for her with a sincere and forgiving heart. Not only am I asking you to pray for her so that God will receive her, I am asking you to pray for me so that I have the grace to do the right thing and pray for her.
God bless you and thank you,
Clare
A PRAYER
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
(By St. Gemma Galgani)
My Jesus, I place all my sins before you.
In my estimation
They do not deserve pardon,
But I ask you
To close your eyes
To my want of merit
And open them
To your infinite merit.
Since you willed
To die for my sins,
Grant me forgiveness
For all of them.
Thus, I may no longer feel
The burden of my sins,
A burden that oppresses me
Beyond measure.
Assist me, dear Jesus,
For I desire to become good
No matter what the cost
Take away, destroy,
And utterly root out
Whatever you find in me
That is contrary
To your holy will.
At the same time, dear Jesus, illumine me
So that I may walk in your holy light.
PRAYER FOR OUR FAMILY # 3
Heavenly Father,
you have given us the model of life
in the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Help us, O Loving Father,
to make our family another Nazareth
where love, peace and joy reign.
May it be deeply contemplative,
intensely eucharistic,
revived with joy.
Help us to stay together in joy
and sorrow in family prayer.
Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families,
especially in their distressing disguise.
May the eucharistic heart of Jesus
make our hearts humble like his
and help us to carry out our family duties
in a holy way.
May we love one another
as God loves each one of us,
more and more each day,
and forgive each other’s faults
as you forgive our sins.
Help us, O Loving Father,
to take whatever you give
and give whatever you take with a big smile.
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
cause of our joy, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels,
be always with us,
guide and protect us.
Amen.
(Author: Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
May you both find peace and comfort in this trial you are going through.