How Does One Offer an Action Up as a Prayer?

[Melodeonist]

This is probably a very stupid question, but how does one offer an action up as a prayer? Does one pray before performing the action and tell God that they are offering the action up as a prayer for whatever?

 

[Don_Ruggero]

This is probably a very stupid question, but how does one offer an action up as a prayer? Does one pray before performing the action and tell God that they are offering the action up as a prayer for whatever?

The question is not stupid at all. There are essentially two ways…through a habitual intention or through a specific intention before the action offered up.

It is always a good idea to make the Morning Offering, which gives to God all you will do that day in addition to forming the intention for the gaining of indulgences. There is one I memorized in English many many years ago which I say. It is Marian in orientation:
*MORNING OFFERING
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (here kiss your Brown scapular as a sign of your consecration – this carries a partial indulgence). I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with it the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.

O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can, and I offer them together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that She may best apply them to the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!*
wafusa.org/the-apostolate/prayers/

The World Apostolate of Fatima, aka The Blue Army, is faithful to the Church and in complete communion with both the Bishop of Fatima and the Holy See – this cannot be said of every group and care is needed but this one is reliable.

The Apostleship of Prayer has a number of morning offerings that are focused on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

apostleshipofprayer.org/daily-offering-prayers/

The Fatima sacrifice prayer, taught by Our Lady to the children, can be used when you are wanting to offer up something specific:
O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, [for the Holy Father,] and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The part in square brackets was not in the prayer Our Lady gave but added by Blessed Jacinta Marto after a vision she had of the Holy Father which deeply upset her and caused her to include him specifically in every sacrifice that she offered up.

I hope you find these helpful.

 

[Melodeonist]

Thanks for the reply! That last one seems especially useful.

 

[MaryT777]

The question is not stupid at all. There are essentially two ways…through a habitual intention or through a specific intention before the action offered up.

It is always a good idea to make the Morning Offering, which gives to God all you will do that day in addition to forming the intention for the gaining of indulgences. There is one I memorized in English many many years ago which I say. It is Marian in orientation:
*MORNING OFFERING
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (here kiss your Brown scapular as a sign of your consecration – this carries a partial indulgence). I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with it the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.

O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can, and I offer them together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that She may best apply them to the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!*
wafusa.org/the-apostolate/prayers/

The World Apostolate of Fatima, aka The Blue Army, is faithful to the Church and in complete communion with both the Bishop of Fatima and the Holy See – this cannot be said of every group and care is needed but this one is reliable.

The Apostleship of Prayer has a number of morning offerings that are focused on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

apostleshipofprayer.org/daily-offering-prayers/

The Fatima sacrifice prayer, taught by Our Lady to the children, can be used when you are wanting to offer up something specific:
O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, [for the Holy Father,] and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The part in square brackets was not in the prayer Our Lady gave but added by Blessed Jacinta Marto after a vision she had of the Holy Father which deeply upset her and caused her to include him specifically in every sacrifice that she offered up.

I hope you find these helpful.

We are so blessed to have you on the board. You are a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and inspiration.

Mary.

 

[oldgraymare2]

We are so blessed to have you on the board. You are a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and inspiration.

Mary.

I totally agree with you, Mary.

I don’t often mention it enough, but thank you for being here, Fr. Ruggero. I appreciate your insight and all that you have to offer here to those of us posting here at CAF.

Thank you again, and God bless you!

 

[justcatholic997]

I have the same question as Melodeonist, so I hope you don’t mind if I drop in

Anyways, Don Ruggero(thanks for your help) has given very good advice on the prayer used for the devotion. While I understand that, I don’t understand what you do after. Let’s say I offer up the morning prayer. Should I just go about my normal day, or do I need a specific mindset throughout the day for it to be offered up?

 

[oldgraymare2]

I have the same question as Melodeonist, so I hope you don’t mind if I drop in

Anyways, Don Ruggero(thanks for your help) has given very good advice on the prayer used for the devotion. While I understand that, I don’t understand what you do after. Let’s say I offer up the morning prayer. Should I just go about my normal day, or do I need a specific mindset throughout the day for it to be offered up?

With the Morning Offering, you are already offering your intentions for the day, so that you can unite all to God that you are doing for the day. It’s right there in the prayers, so to speak.

As for me, I personally try and have the mind-set of turning to God throughout the day anyway, so that that personal connection with Him in my mind is always there. I try and keep myself focused on Him and Our Lady and the Heavenly Kingdom as much as possible.