PRAYER BEFORE GOING TO WORK

How gracious are you, O God, You give us everything in this life: food on the table, clothes on our backs, a roof over our heads, a meaningful existence, the spirit of discernment. How gracious are You, O God, to enhance this unworthy body with a creative mind, and skillful hands. You gift us with innumerable talents and make us stewards of Your land. You call us not servants but masters of all Your creation.

Guide us that we may remain faithful and responsible workers and tenants of Your vineyard.

Grant us grace no to doubt Your Word nor challenge Your Divine Will. Keep us from succumbing to the seduction of fame, the lures of material wealth, the quest for personal gain. May we not gamble future glory for the passing pleasures of this world. Give us the courage to stake everything on You alone, O dear God. AMEN.

A STUDENT’S PRAYER TO ST. ANTHONY

O Glorious St. Anthony, divinely endowed with the learning of Saints, I desire to place my studies under your protection. Guided by your example, I wish to draw all my knowledge from the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

With your assistance, I will study, to do my duty, in a spirit of penance, and with a pure intention.

May the “Father of Light” grant me, through your intercession, a bright intellect, a sound judgment and a retentive memory.

Help me to study patiently, orderly and constantly to develop in me the gifts of God and always to make good use of them according to His Divine Will.

O dear St. Anthony, grant me to succeed in all my studies and examinations, if it be for the greater glory of God and the benefit of my soul. AMEN.

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO

O St. Joseph of Cupertino, who by your prayer obtained from God to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. Grant that I may, like you, succeed in the (mention the name of exam). In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

O St. Joseph of Cupertino, pray for me.

LET ME BE A HEALING PRESENCE

Today, Lord, and all the days of my life,
let me be a healing presence to others as You have been to me.
You have touched my life, healed me and made me whole.
You have given me strength, hope and joy and filled my life with peace.
You have lifted up my spirits and made me soar high in the wings of Your love.
With a grateful heart, let me now give back to You this humble offering of myself, my time, my talents, my treasures, my prayers, most of all my love.
Use me as Your channel of peace, love and joy for others.
Lord, let me be so filled with Your healing love that it flows to each and every weary,
burdened and broken person You send my way.
Today Lord and all the days of my life,
let me be a healing presence to others as You have been to me.
AMEN.

Prayer for Success in Our Studies

Give me Lord, a mind that learns when it is taught. Help me use my intellect for something bigger and better than myself alone. Make me want knowledge, that I may know You better, so that I can love and defend Your church, so that I can become a complete and developed human being.

Let me carry my knowledge humbly. Make me realize it is a gift from God and must be returned to God. Send Your Holy Spirit, to help me see clearly, to judge wisely, to love what is true, to direct my mind to all that is good and noble, and beautiful in heaven and earth.

Use me as Your special instrument, an intelligent instrument in spreading Your kingdom throughout the whole world. Until all the world knows you as I know You, and knowing You, loves You. Amen.

The Nurse's Prayer

Dear Jesus, model and inspiration of the nursing profession, I know that when you ascended into heaven, You left the care of the sick to those of us whom You have blessed with the Holy Vocation of nursing. Please help me to be faithful to that calling so that I can always do the things you want me to do and in the manner that you want me to do them.

Grant that my voice be gentle, that my hands may have the softness and sympathy of Your hands. That my presence may bring something for the hope and consolation, which Your presence brought to the sufferers of Your day.

I want to do all these things Lord, but I know that I am weak and can do little without Your aid. Please give that aid this day and everyday of my life so that I can always be what You want me to be, an angel of the sick room. Amen.