Work of God 
Articles related to the first work of God: Prayer. These include both the public prayer of the Church, private prayers, and methods of praying.
Traditional Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who roam the world seeking the ruin… Read More ›
Find Your Place in the Psalter using this one Weird Trick!
Okay, so your three year old was playing with the ribbons in your breviary again, and now they’re all pulled out and you don’t remember what week in the Psalter you should be using. Or you got out of the habit of praying the hours for a couple weeks, and want to start up again,… Read More ›
Psalm 49(48): 14-21: God will ransom me!
1. As it gradually develops, the Liturgy of Vespers presents to us the sapiential Psalm 49[48], whose second part has just been proclaimed (cf. vv. 14-21). This section of the Psalm, like the previous part (cf. vv. 1-13) on which we have already reflected, also condemns the illusion to which idolizing riches gives rise. This… Read More ›
Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
I, (Name), a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful… Read More ›
Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Most sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before you, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which your loving Heart is everywhere subject. Mindful, alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such… Read More ›
5 reasons to adore the Sacred Heart
If you had a May wedding, the bridesmaids wore blue. If you had a June wedding, the bridesmaids wore red. Such was the custom not so long ago for Catholic nuptials. Blue was to honor the Blessed Mother and red to honor the Sacred Heart. While most brides today have never heard of such devotions,… Read More ›
Origins of the Rosary, part 2
The rosary gained greater popularity in the 1500s, especially through the efforts of Pope St. Pius V. At this time, the Muslim Turks were ravaging eastern Europe. Recall that in 1453, Constantinople had fallen to the Muslims, leaving the Balkans and Hungary open to conquest. In 1521, they had conquered Belgrade, Hungary, and by 1526,… Read More ›
Origins of the Rosary, part 1
The rosary is one of the most cherished prayers of our Catholic Church.Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more… Read More ›
Official Prayers to St. John Paul II
Feast day: October 22 Prayer Oh, St. John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing! Bless the church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading it along the paths of the world in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. Bless the young, who were your great… Read More ›
Official Prayers to St. John XXIII
Feast day: October 11 Dear Pope John, Your simplicity and meekness carried the scent of God and sparked in people’s hearts the desire for goodness. You spoke often of the beauty of the family gathered around the table to share bread and faith: pray for us that once again true families would live in our… Read More ›