Welcome to the Athboy Parish Prayer Space
Prayer is an essential and life giving part of our faith. Spontaneous prayer together with traditional prayers are important in our lives. One can be enriched by the other and our faith can be helped to grow and develop by using both.
This space is dedicated to prayers, scripture and inspirational thoughts that you may find useful.
PRAYER TO ST OLIVER PLUNKETT
Glorious martyr, Saint Oliver Plunkett,
who willingly gave your life for the faith,
help us also to be strong in our faith.
By your intercession and example
may all hatred and bitterness be banished
from the hearts of men and women.
May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts
as it did in your heart even at the moment of your death.
Amen.
St. Oliver Plunkett’s feast day is July 1st
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body now, but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth, but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world.
Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good.
Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world.”
St Teresa of Avila
PRAYER FOR THOSE ON HOLIDAY
Lord, we pray for all those on holiday this summer and thank you for the refreshment, which holiday, brings to our lives; for the excitement of anticipation and planning; for the freedom from routine, and for new experiences and opportunities.
You have given us a world with so much variety that wherever we go we are surrounded by things, which are different and bring new experiences. Help us to use our holidays to see your creation. Help us to use our freedom to understand more clearly the fullness of life you are constantly offering us. Accept our thanks for the rich variety of life, which is your gift, and when our holidays are over, help us to return to our homes safely, with a new vision of your will for us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen
A PRAYER FOR HELP
Have mercy, O Lord, on me in my futility.
Please grant me your wisdom
and fill me with your strength;
for I am a sinner,
weak in body,
wounded in spirit,
deficient in understanding.
Amen
PRAYER IN TIME OF DIFFICULTY
Lord, in every need let me come to You with humble trust saying,
“Jesus, help me.”
In my hours of doubts, loneliness, perplexities and temptations,
“Jesus, help me”
In the failure of my plans and hopes
“Jesus, help me.”
When others fail me, Your grace alone can assist me,
“Jesus, Help me.”
When my heart is cast down by failure at seeing no good come from my efforts,
“Jesus, help me.”
When I am sick and impatient and my cross frustrates me,
“Jesus, help me.”
Lord, teach me to understand my suffering as You do.
Calm my fears; increase my trust, help me to love you more. Amen.
St James’ Prayer
James, man of prayer,
pray that we may listen and respond to God’s call in our lives.
James, holy apostle,
Pray that we may be disciples of Jesus in word and action.
James, devoted friend of Jesus,
Pray that we may be strong in our devotion to one another.
James, the fisherman, patron of labourers,
Pray for us in our labours and help those seeking employment
James, witness of the transfiguration of Jesus,
Pray that we may see the glory of God revealed in our lives.
James, compassionate teacher,
Pray that we may serve on another in love.
James, faithful to God’s call
Pray for us in our efforts to live our Catholic faith.
James, comfort of the troubled,
Pray for those who are suffering.
Blessed James, may you inner spirit of peace, good work, discipleship and prayer always be an inspiration to us.
Holy Apostle, walk with us on our journey of faith. May your prayers obtain for us the wisdom to discern God’s call and the strength to endure, so that we may grow in holiness and rejoice in communion with all the saints. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
St James, patron of our parish Feastday – July 25th
Prayer for the Fourth World Day
for Grandparents and the Elderly
Sunday July 28th 2024
Lord, faithful God,
You who created us in Your image,
You who never leaves us alone
and who accompanies us through every season of life,
do not abandon us, take care of us,
and grant us, once again, the ability to discover ourselves and recognise that we are Your children.
Renew our hearts with your Word
and do not allow anyone to be cast aside.
May your Spirit of love fill us with Your tenderness and teach us to say, “I will not abandon you!” to those we meet on our journey.
With the help of your beloved Son,
may we not lose the taste for fraternity
and may we not conform to the sadness of loneliness. Help us to look to the future with renewed hope,
and make the World Day for Grandparents & the Elderly,
a day without loneliness, and a day abundant with the first-fruits of Your peace. Amen.
A PRAYER TO OUR LADY
Mary, Mother of Jesus and of all the human family,
with great joy we call you Blessed.
Be close to us always.
May no day pass without a prayer to you in our hearts and on our lips.
May you be a mother to us throughout all the years of our lives,
a mother ever ready to help us.
Stay with us, Mary when there is peace at home,
when joy and happiness make life easy.
Stay with us, Mother, whenever we have sickness in the home,
it is then we need you most.
Should death come to any member of the family,
old or young, then comfort us in our grief and wipe away our tears.
And Mary, when we close our eyes in death may we find you
waiting to welcome us at the gates of Heaven. Amen.
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Thursday August 15th