Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Almighty God, who called Ignatius of Loyola to the service of your Divine Majesty and to seek you in all things; Give us also the grace to labor without counting the cost and to seek no reward other than knowing that we do your will; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen

Saint Peter Chyrsologus

O God, who made Saint Peter Chrysologus an outstanding preacher of your incarnate Word, grant, through his intercession, that we may constantly ponder in our hearts the mysteries of your salvation and faithfully express them in what we do. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

From the Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship on the celebration of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus (26 January 2021):

In the household of Bethany the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and for this reason the Gospel of John states that he loved them. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death.

The traditional uncertainty of the Latin Church about the identity of Mary (the Magdalene to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection, the sister of Martha, the sinner whose sins the Lord had forgiven), which resulted in the inclusion of Martha alone on 29 July in the Roman Calendar, has been resolved in recent studies and times, as attested by the current Roman Martyrology, which also commemorates Mary and Lazarus on that day. Moreover, in some particular calendars the three siblings are already celebrated together.

Therefore, the Supreme Pontiff Pope Francis, considering the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to him attentively, in believing that he is the resurrection and the life, and accepting the proposal of this Dicastery, has decreed that 29 July be designated in the General Roman Calendar as the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus.+

Let us pray.

Generous God, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany: Open our hearts to love you, our ears to hear you, and our hands to welcome and serve you in others, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Shadowed by Infidelity

O God, you have kept your covenant with every generation. In a world shadowed by the many infidelities of frail humanity, grant us faith in your enduring love, through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer from Magnificat Magazine, American edition, Morning Prayer, Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Photo by Dmitry Shamis on Unsplash

Fragile and Strong

O God of wisdom and of love, you have made us as fragile as the flowers of the field, yet you have made us strong in the hope of life everlasting. Teach us to see this day as gift enough, that we may live it for your glory and render it back to you in praise when evening falls, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer from Magnificat Magazine, American edition, Morning Prayer, Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Photo by Diễm Phan on Unsplash

Saints Joachim and Anne

O Lord, God of our Fathers, who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son, grant, through the prayers of both, that we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

Gather Us Together

Great God of love, you have fed us on the finest wheat, but we have broken the bonds of peace and become scattered like crumbs of bread in the wind. Gather us together in Christ, that we may live in peace and love as members of one body, fed on the one Bread of life, the same Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer from Magnificat Magazine, American edition, Morning Prayer, Sunday, July 25, 2021

Photo by Wesual Click on Unsplash

Saint Sharbel Makhlūf

O God, who called Sharbel Makhlūf to life as a hermit to do solitary combat against the powers of evil on behalf of others. Grant us, we pray, that, inspired by the witness of Saint Sharbel, and becoming imitators of Christ Jesus through co-suffering love, we may merit to be co-heirs of His Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Saint Bridget of Sweden

O Jesus! Inexhaustible Fountain of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of Love, said from the Cross: “I thirst!” suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race. I beg of Thee O my Saviour, to inflame in our hearts the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts; and to extinguish in us the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires. Amen*

*Prayer attributed to Saint Bridget

Saint Mary Magdalene

O God of glory and of love, Mary Magdalene stood by the cross of your Son Jesus Christ and witnessed the wonder of his Resurrection. Through her example and her prayer, inspire all those whom you have brought to new life in the waters of baptism with the zeal to proclaim the Gospel in freedom and in joy. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer from Magnificat Magazine, American edition, Morning Prayer, Thursday, July 22, 2021