Return of Lapsed Catholics to the Sacraments
Almighty Father,
You desire not the death of the sinner,
but that he may be converted and live.
Pour out upon us Your mercy and
hear the prayers of Your servants.
Soften the hearts of Your children
who have strayed from the true path which
You established for their salvation.
They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics,
and pursue the pleasures of the world.
Grant that they may quickly return
to the practice of every Christian virtue,
so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith,
the fervor of piety, and the ardor of charity.
Restore them all to Your sacraments
and the life of Your grace, through the merits
of the most precious blood of Your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
A Prayer of Parents
Blessed Mother, keep us always in mind of your Son’s great mercy and understanding as we pray for our children. They are grown-up now and have left us and are living their lives according to their own ideas. We feel anxious and worried because they do not seem to feel the need of Christ, to understand the wisdom of his ways, or to be fully at ease with us or themselves.
Intervene, dearest Mother, in their lives at the moment you know to be right and help them to understand the things that lead to their peace. Help them to see their need of Christ and to experience the greatness of his love, so that we may all proclaim as you did, that his mercy truly is from generation unto generation. Amen.
Grandparents Prayer to Saint Ann and Saint Joachim
Good Saint Ann and Saint Joachim, parents of Mary and grandparents to Jesus, be with me and all grandparents that we may be wise and loving, may share our time and stories and sense of humor, and may enjoy and not spoil too much the grandchildren who are close to our hearts, for they are the sign of God’s life to us.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, be with our grandchildren and all other grandchildren that they may love and respect their grandparents and all older people, may remember to call, visit or write, and grow in wisdom, age and grace before God. Amen.