Hymn for 7/10

Glorious Majesty

Glorious Majesty, before Thee
We bow to worship and adore Thee;
With grateful hearts to Thee we sing,
Earth and heaven tell the story
Of Thine eternal might and glory,
And all Thy works their incense bring.
Lo, hosts of cherubim and countless seraphim
Sing hosanna, holy is God
Almighty God, all merciful and all wise God!

God of light, exalted, holy!
Thy tender care protects the lowly,
Nor leaves Thy children to their fate.
Gracious art Thou, God our Father,
Thy chosen people Thou dost gather,
Within Thine arms compassionate,
Thou gavest us Thy Son, through whom Thy grace is won,
And Thy Spirit dwelleth within to cleanse from sin
Whom Thine own Son hath died to win.

Bless and keep, O Lord, Thy creatures,
Reveal to us Thy gracious features,
O turn to us Thy face with peace
Here our songs we humbly tender,
Til glorified our tongues shall render
To Thee our praise without surcease,
Where hosts of cherubim and countless seraphim
Sing holy is God, almighty God,
All merciful and all wise God!

Prayers for 7/9

Today we ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary under two of her titles: Our Lady of Chiquinquira and Our Lady of Peace.

We also ask the intercession of the Martyrs of Gorkum, Sts. Antonino Fantosati, Augustine Tchao, Francesco Fogolla, Mary Hermina Grivot, Paulina do Coração Agonizante de Jesus, and Veronica Giuliani; along with Bls. Adrian Fortescue, Fidelis Chojnacki, and Jane Scopelli.

For the people of Colombia...

For the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception...

For the Congregation of the Daughters of Mercy...

For the repose of the souls of the victims of the plane crash in Russia, for the recovery of the injured, and for their families and friends...

For Mark Shea's mother, and for her family and friends...

For peace throughout the world, especially in the Middle East and North Korea...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

With Joy We Lift Our Eyes


With joy we lift our eyes,
To those bright realms above,
That glorious temple in the skies,
Where dwells eternal Love.

Before Thy throne we bow,
O Thou almighty King;
Here we present the solemn vow
And hymns of praise we sing.

While in Thy house we kneel,
With trust and holy fear,
Thy mercy and Thy truth reveal,
And lend a gracious ear.

Lord, teach our hearts to pray,
And tune our lips to sing,
Nor from Thy presence cast away,
The sacrifice we bring.

Prayers for 7/8

Today we ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We also ask the intercession of the Abrahamite Monks, the Martyrs of Shanxi, Sts. Pope Adrian III, Aquila, Colman, Edgar the Peaceful, Killian, Priscilla, Sunniva and Totnan; and Bl. Pope Eugene III.

For the Holy Father, and for his personal intentions...

For the people of Bavaria...

For sufferers of arthritis and gout...

For Mark Shea's mother, and for her family and friends...

For the people of Mexico and Felipe Calderon...

For Annie Schoenfield, her son Luke, and her family and friends...

For the repose of the soul of 1st Sgt. Jeffrey McLochlin, and for his family and friends...

For peace throughout the world, especially in the Middle East and North Korea...

For large families...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Marian Antiphon for 7/8

Byzantine Hymn

More honorable than the Cherubim,
and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim,
thou who without stain barest God the Word,
and art truly Theotokos,
we magnify thee.

Prayers for 7/7

On this First Friday, we ask the intercession of Sts. Illidius, Palladius, Syrus of Genoa, and Willibald; along with Bls. Pope Benedict XI, Lawrence Humphrey, Maria Romero Meneses, and Ralph Milner.

For the Holy Father, and for his intentions...

For the people of Scotland...

For the people of London, especially the repose of the souls of those killed in last year's bombings, and those who were injured, as well as their family and friends...

For the repose of the soul of Desiree Honegger, and for her family and friends...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 7/7

Thy Wondrous Testimonies, Lord


Thy wondrous testimonies, Lord,
My soul will keep and greatly praise;
Thy Word, by faithful lips proclaimed,
To simplest minds the truth conveys.

I thirst for Thy commandments, Lord,
And for Thy mercy press my claim;
O look on me, and show the grace
Displayed to all who love Thy Name.

Direct my footsteps in Thy Word,
From sin’s dominion save my soul,
From man’s oppression set me free,
That I may yield to Thy control.

O make Thy face to shine on me,
And teach me all Thy laws to keep;
Because Thy statutes are despised,
With overwhelming grief I weep.

Prayers for 7/6

Today we ask the intercession of the Prophet Isaiah; Sts. Goar, Godelieve, and Maria Goretti; and Bls. Mary Rose de Loye and Thomas Alfield.

For all who work in the hospitality trade...

For vintners...

For abused spouses...

For rape victims...

For young women...

For peace throughout the world, especially in the Middle East and North Korea...

For Hu Jingxuan and Hu Jingni, and for their parents and family...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 7/6

Thy Word, O Lord, Like Gentle Dews


Thy Word, O Lord, like gentle dews,
Falls soft on hearts that pine;
Lord, to Thy garden ne’er refuse
This heavenly balm of Thine.
Watered by Thee, let every tree
Then blossom to Thy praise,
By grace of Thine bear fruit divine
Through all the coming days.

Thy Word is like a flaming sword,
A wedge that cleaveth stone;
Keen as a fire, so burns Thy Word,
And pierceth flesh and bone;
Let it go forth o’er all the earth
To cleanse our hearts within,
To show Thy power in Satan’s hour,
And break the night of sin.

Thy Word, a wondrous guiding star,
On pilgrim hearts doth rise,
Leads those to God who dwell afar,
And makes the simple wise.
Let not its light e’er sink in night,
But in each spirit shine,
That none may miss Heaven’s final bliss,
Led by Thy light divine.

Prayers for 7/5

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Athanasius the Athonite, Grace, Modwenna, Probus, Stephen of Reggio, and Zoe of Rome; as well as Bl. Elias of Bourdeilles.

For the Barnabites...

For peace throughout the world, especially in the Middle East and North Korea...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 7/5

The Lord, the Sovereign, Sends His Summons Forth


The Lord, the Sovereign, sends His summons forth,
Calls the south nations and awakes the north;
From east to west the sounding orders spread,
Through distant worlds and regions of the dead:
No more shall atheists mock His long delay;
His vengeance sleeps no more: behold the day!

Behold, the Judge descends, His guards are nigh;
Tempest and fire attend Him down the sky:
Heav’n, earth, and hell, draw near; let all things come
To hear His justice, and the sinner’s doom:
“But gather first My saints,” the Judge commands,
“Bring them, ye angels, from their distant lands.

“Behold, My cov’nant stands for ever good,
Sealed by th’ eternal Sacrifice in blood,
And signed with all their names; the Greek, the Jew,
That paid the ancient worship or the new,
There’s no distinction here; come, spread their thrones,
And near Me seat My fav’rites and My sons.

“I, their Almighty Savior and their God,
I am their Judge: ye heav’ns, proclaim abroad
My just eternal sentence, and declare
Those awful truths that sinners dread to hear:
Sinners in Zion, tremble and retire;
I doom the painted hypocrite to fire.

“Not for the want of goats or bullocks slain
Do I condemn thee; bulls and goats are vain
Without the flames of love; in vain the store
Of brutal off’rings that were Mine before;
Mine are the tamer beasts and savage breed,
Flocks, herds, and fields and forests where they feed.

“If I were hungry, would I ask thee food?
When did I thirst, or drink thy bullocks’ blood?
Can I be flattered with thy cringing bows,
Thy solemn chatt’rings and fantastic vows?
Are My eyes charmed thy vestments to behold,
Glaring in gems, and gay in woven gold?

“Unthinking wretch! how couldst thou hope to please
A God, a Spirit, with such toys as these,
While, with My grace and statutes on thy tongue,
Thou lov’st deceit, and dost thy brother wrong?
In vain to pious forms thy zeal pretends,
Thieves and adulterers are thy chosen friends.

“Silent I waited with long-suff’ring love,
But didst thou hope that I should ne’er reprove?
And cherish such an impious thought within,
That God, the Righteous, would indulge thy sin?
Behold My terrors now: My thunders roll,
And thy own crimes affright thy guilty soul.”

Sinners, awake betimes; ye fools, be wise;
Awake before this dreadful morning rise;
Change your vain thoughts, your crooked works amend,
Fly to the Savior, make the Judge your friend
Lest, like a lion, His last vengeance tear
Your trembling souls, and no deliv’rer near.

Prayers for 7/4

We ask the intercession of Mary Immaculate, on behalf of the people of the United States.

We also ask the intercession of the Prophets Haggai and Hosea; Sts. Andrew of Crete, Bertha of Blangy, Elizabeth of Portugal, Procopius, and Ulric; and Bls. Catherine Jarrige, Edward Fulthrop, John Carey, John Cornelius, Joseph Kowalski, Patrick Salmon, Pier Giorgio Frassati, Thomas Bosgrave, Thomas Warcop, and William Andleby.

For the peoples of the United States and the Czech Republic...

For charitable organizations, and all who work for them...

For marriages hurt by infidelity...

For expectant mothers (especially those dealing with difficult pregnancies) and their preborn babies...

For a personal intention...

For Cathy Ward's father...

For Sister Jean Bernadette...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 7/4

This is based on the readings for today's regular Mass.

I Feel the Winds of God Today

I feel the winds of God today; today my sail I lift,
Though heavy, oft with drenching spray, and torn with many a rift;
If hope but light the water’s crest, and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at His behest, and brave another cruise.

It is the wind of God that dries my vain regretful tears,
Until with braver thoughts shall rise the purer, brighter years;
If cast on shores of selfish ease or pleasure I should be;
Lord, let me feel Thy freshening breeze, and I’ll put back to sea.

If ever I forget Thy love and how that love was shown,
Lift high the blood red flag above; it bears Thy Name alone.
Great Pilot of my onward way, Thou wilt not let me drift;
I feel the winds of God today, today my sail I lift.

Hymn in honor of Independence Day

God of Our Fathers

God of our fathers, Whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast,
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

Prayers for the Feast of St. Thomas

Besides St. Thomas the Apostle, we also ask the intercession of Sts. Pope Leo II, Anatolius of Alexandria, Joseph Peter Uyen, Philip Minh, and Rumold.

For the peoples of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the East Indies...

For architects...

For all who work in construction...

For stonecutters and masons...

For those who doubt their faith...

For peace throughout the world, especially in the Middle East...

For the people of Mexico, as they undergo a time of election...

For Fr. Ross Shecterle and for those workers he serves this week...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Feast of St. Thomas

O Thou, Who Didst with Love Untold


O Thou, Who didst with love untold
Thy doubting servant chide,
Bidding the eye of sense behold
Thy wounded hands and side.

Grant us, like him, with heartfelt awe
To own Thee God and Lord,
And from this hour of darkness draw
Faith in the incarnate Word.

And while that wondrous record now
Of unbelief we hear,
O let us only lowlier bow
In self-distrusting fear.

And grant that we may never dare
Thy loving heart to grieve,
But, at the last, their blessing share
Who see not, yet believe.

Prayer for 7/2

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Acestes, Bernadine Realino, Martinian, Otto of Bamberg, Processus, and Swithun.

For those affected by drought...

For those suffering from rabies...

For Oswaldo Paya...

For those traveling this weekend...

For baby Mirielle, as well as her parents, and their family and friends...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer, Creator

We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring;
We lay it before Thee, we kneel and adore Thee,
We bless Thy holy Name, glad praises we sing.

We worship Thee, God of our fathers, we bless Thee;
Through life’s storm and tempest our guide have Thou been;
When perils overtake us, escape Thou will make us,
And with Thy help, O Lord, our battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer,
To Thee, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.
Thy strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
To Thee, our great Redeemer, forever be praise.

Prayers for 7/1

Today we ask the intercession of St. Servan, along with Bls. Junipero Serra and Nazju Falzon.

For the people of the Orkney Islands...

For the repose of the soul of Cecilia Roberts Leslie, and for her family and friends...

For Baby Mirielle and her family...

For Jude Ambrose Josemaria and his family...

For the flooded areas of the Eastern USA...

For the intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Marian Prayer for 7/1

by St. Cyril of Alexandria

Hail, Mary, Mother of God, venerable treasure of the whole universe, lamp that is never extinguished, crown of virginity, support of the true faith, indestructible temple, dwelling of him whom no place can contain, O Mother and Virgin! Through you all the holy Gospels call blessed the one whom comes in the name of the Lord.

Hail, Mother of God. You enclosed under your heart the infinite God whom no space can contain. Through you the Most Holy Trinity is adored and glorified, the priceless cross is venerated throughout the universe. Through you the heavens rejoice, and the angels and archangels are filled with gladness. Through you the demons are banished, and the tempter fell from heaven. Through you the fallen human race is admitted to heaven.

Hail, Mother of God. Through you kings rule, and the only-begotten Son of God has become a star of light to those who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.