Consecration
God, You gave me gifts of life and faith. You bless them with the gift of pardon for my sins, and crown this with eternal salvation! You protect and nurture these blessings with the gifts of Your Word, of Your Sacraments, of Your Church, of Your Holy Spirit functioning within them.
Therefore, to You, in faith, I dedicate all these gifts, so that you may use them to serve Your word and Your people. Please grant that I so aptly, creatively, and fully steward these gifts that my life is a psalm of thanksgiving and praise to You. Amen. 1981
Seeking union with God
Our God, please do not allow us to interpret our desire for You as zeal for any ideal, activity, devotion, or person. Do not allow our passion for God to lead us to hidden selfishness. Inspire us with wisdom and discipline to seek You as we authentically serve each other.
I cannot make myself worthy of You. I come with my fragments of prayer, goodwill and kind acts, while others perhaps arise with extraordinary gifts to offer You, but we all have only trust in Your merciful Love, as means to union with You. Therefore, I pray, “Draw us. We will run” to You.
In our human poverty before You, we ask everything of Your mercy, for we are Your children and You are rich beyond imagination. If You require sacrifice, we offer the Sacrifice of Your Son, together with the sacrifices and goodness of countless saints though all ages. If You require selfless Love, fill our beings, ‘pressed down and running over’ with Your own Love. God our only God, unite us in Your Love.
Praise God
Praise to You our God, for Your love, opportunities, and blessings in our lives. We have tried to respond—yet perhaps not well enough. If we have curtailed Your plans, please heal our doubts and achieve Your purpose despite our flaws. Forgive our hurt when You seem not to listen or to respond. Accept our trust that You will overcome our barriers and fulfil Your dreams in our lives.
Amid Your blessings, there have been sufferings, sadness, and disappointments. Yet You intend all these graces and difficulties to break open our hearts to You. In every situation, fill us with peace, joy, gratitude, and love for You above all and others, as You desire.
We praise You for the hope, faith, love and gratitude that You rouse in us during our lives.
Thank You for those times when we appreciate Your love and gifts! Thank You for the delight and adoration that You inspire in us! Thank You for the times Your Spirit blesses others through us.
Praise God, our souls, within our fundamental choice! Praise God in our sleeping, in our waking, in our awareness, in our distractions, in our laughter, in our sorrows, in our actions, in our stillness, in our dying, in our rising.
“Have you not sometimes loved the Lord? Do you not love God now? Do you not long to love God forever? Therefore, do not fear! Even conceded that you had committed all the sins of this world, Jesus repeats to you: Many sins are forgiven you because you have loved much!” (Saint [Padre] Pio)