Prayers for 6/30

Today we ask the intercession of the First Marytrs of Rome, along with Sts.Vincent Yen and Theobald; and Bls. Raymond Lull and Philip Powell.

For persecuted Christians everywhere...

For single men...

For Baby James...

For Roger Thomas and his family...

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

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 6/30

Creator of the World, to Thee

Creator of the world, to Thee
And endless rest of joy belongs;
And heavenly choirs are ever free
To sing on high their festal songs.

But we are fallen creatures here,
Where pain and sorrow daily come;
And how can we in exile drear
Sing out, as they, sweet songs of Home?

O Father, Who dost promise still
That they who mourn shall blessèd be,
Grant us to weep for deeds of ill
That banish us so long from Thee.

But weeping, grant us faith to rest
In hope upon Thy loving care;
Till Thou restore us, with the blest,
Their songs of praise in Heav’n to share.

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom Heav’n and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.

Prayers for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

The full entries on today's saints are found here and here.

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

For the entire Catholic Church, especially the Latin Rite...

For the peoples of Malta and Rome...

For the Cursillo movement...

For missionaries...

For writers...

For those who work in mass media...

For those who work in the foods industry...

For fisherman and all who work on the water...

For those who suffer from foot problems...

For podiatrists...

For the repose of the soul of Eric Ransom, and for his family and friends...

For the recovery of Truman Duncan, and for his family and friends...

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

For those facing religious persecution...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

The Eternal Gifts of Christ the King


The eternal gifts of Christ the King,
The Apostles’ glorious deeds, we sing;
And while due hymns of praise we pay,
Our thankful hearts cast grief away.

The Church in these her princes boasts,
These victor chiefs of warriors hosts;
The soldiers of the heavenly hall,
The lights that rose on earth for all.

’Twas thus the yearning faith of saints,
The unconquered hope that never faints,
The love of Christ that knows not shame,
The prince of this world overcame.

In these the Father’s glory shone;
In these the will of God the Son;
In these exults the Holy Ghost;
Through these rejoice the heavenly host.

Redeemer, hear us of Thy love,
That, with this glorious band above,
Hereafter, of Thine endless grace,
Thy servants also may have place.

Prayers for 6/28

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Pope Paul I, Irenaeus of Lyons, John Southworth, and Vincentia Gerosa.

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

For the Sisters of Charity of Lovere...

For Mark's mother, and for their family and friends...

For Mark's book, and for all who face difficulties in their careers...

For Dale Price and his family...

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

For the repose of the soul of Melissa Robinson, and for her family and friends...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 6/28

O For That Tenderness of Heart

O for that tenderness of heart
Which bows before the Lord,
Acknowledging how just Thou art,
And trembling at Thy Word!

O for those humble, contrite tears,
Which from repentance flow;
That consciousness of guilt which fears
The long-suspended blow!

Wilt from the dreadful day remove,
Before the evil come;
My spirit hide with saints above,
My body in the tomb.

Savior, to me in pity give
The sensible distress;
The pledge Thou wilt, at last, receive
And bid me die in peace.

Prayers for 6/27

Today we ask the intercession of Our Lady of Perpetual Help; together with Sts. Crescens, Cyril of Alexandria, Joanna (Eastern calendar), Joseph Hien, and Ladislas; as well as Bl. Madeleine Fontaine.

For the Redemptorists...

For thanksgiving in Karl's new job, and for Karl and his family...

For peace throughout the world...

For those facing religious persecution...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 6/27

Lord, Thy Children Guide and Keep


Lord, Thy children guide and keep,
As with feeble steps they press
On the pathway rough and steep
Through the weary wilderness.
Holy Jesus, day by day,
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are stony ways to tread;
Give the strength we sorely lack.
There are tangled paths to thread;
Light us, lest we miss the track.
Holy Jesus, day by day,
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are sandy wastes that lie
Cold and sunless, vast and drear,
Where the feeble faint and die;
Grant us grace to persevere.
Holy Jesus, day by day,
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are soft and flowery glades
Decked with golden fruited trees,
Sunny slopes and scented shades;
Keep us, Lord, from slothful ease.
Holy Jesus, day by day,
Lead us in the narrow way.

Upward still to purer heights!
Onward yet to scenes more blest,
Calmer regions, clearer lights,
Till we reach the promised rests
Holy Jesus, day by day,
Lead us in the narrow way.

Prayers for 6/26

Today we ask the intercessions of Sts. Anthelm, John, Josemaria Escriva, Paul, Pelagius, and Vigilius of Trent; along with Bls. Andrea Giacinto Longhin and Jane Gerard.

For the Opus Dei movement...

For abandoned and homeless children...

For the repose of the souls of the victims in Denver, for those wounded, and for their families and friends...

For those affected by the heavy rains on the East Coast...

For the intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 6/26

O God, Thou Hast Rejected Us

O God, Thou hast rejected us,
And hast afflicted sore;
Thou hast been angry, but in grace
O once again restore.

Lo, Thou hast torn and rent our land,
Thy judgments dread appall;
O heal her shattered strength before
She totter to her fall.

Through ways of trial and distress
Thy people Thou hast led,
A bitter cup Thou givest us
Of misery and dread.

A glorious banner Thou has giv’n
To those who fear Thy Name,
A banner to display abroad,
And thus the truth proclaim.

That Thy belovèd may be saved
And from their foes set free,
Help with the might of Thy right hand,
In mercy answer me.

God in His holiness has said:
I will triumphant be,
All heathen lands I claim as Mine,
And they shall bow to Me.

Now, therefore, who will lead us on
Sin’s strongholds to possess?
No longer cast us off, O God,
But give our hosts success.

Give Thou Thy help against the foe,
For help of man is vain;
Through God we shall do valiantly,
The victory He shall gain.

Prayers for 6/26

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Dominic Henares, Eurosia, and William of Vercelli.

For those suffering from the effects of inclement weather...

For the newly-ordained Frs. Joshua Brommer and James Lease, and those of Regensburg, Bavaria...

For Nancy and her family...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fierce Raged the Tempest O'er the Deep

Fierce raged the tempest o’er the deep,
Watch did Thine anxious servants keep
But Thou wast wrapped in guileless sleep,
Calm and still.

“Save, Lord, we perish,” was their cry,
“O save us in our agony!”
Thy word above the storm rose high,
“Peace, be still.”

The wild winds hushed; the angry deep
Sank, like a little child, to sleep;
The sullen billows ceased to leap,
At Thy will.

So, when our life is clouded o’er,
And storm winds drift us from the shore,
Say, lest we sink to rise no more,
“Peace, be still.”

Prayers for the Birth of St. John the Baptist

Today we ask the intercession of St. John the Baptist. Today we also remember St. Joseph Yuen.

For those about to be baptized...

For those suffering from neurological disorders...

For those affected by inclement weather...

For those traveling on roads and highways...

For those who work in the textile industry...

For the people of Puerto Rico...

For the people of Quebec...

For the repose of the soul of Staff Sgt. Patrick Lybert, and for his family and friends...

For those facing religious persecution...

For Nancy and her family...

For Donna and her family...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Birth of St. John the Baptist

The Great Forerunner of the Morn


The great forerunner of the morn,
The herald of the Word, is born:
And faithful hearts shall never fail
With thanks and praise his light to hail.

With heavenly message Gabriel came,
That John should be that herald’s name,
And with prophetic utterance told
His actions great and manifold.

John, still unborn, yet gave aright
His witness to the coming Light;
And Christ, the Sun of all of all the earth,
Fulfilled that witness at His birth.

Of woman born shall never be
A greater prophet than was he,
Whose mighty deeds exalt his fame
To greater than a prophet’s name.

But why should mortal accents raise
The hymn of John the Baptist’s praise?
Of whom, or e’er his course was run,
Thus spake the Father to the Son?

“Behold, My herald, who shall go
Before Thy face Thy way to show,
And shine, as with the day-star’s gleam,
Before Thine own eternal beam.”

All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
Forever and forevermore.

Prayers for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

On this great day, we also ask the intercession of St. Etheldreda and Bls. Pope Innocent V and Basil Hopko.

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

For the peoples of Bolivia and Ecuador...

For widows...

For those suffering from throat ailments...

For ENT specialists...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Solemnity of the Sared Heart

To Christ, The Prince of Peace

To Christ, the Prince of peace,
And Son of God most high,
The Father of the world to come,
We lift our joyful cry.

Deep in His heart for us
The wound of love He bore,
That love which He enkindles still
In hearts that Him adore.

O Jesu, Victim blest,
What else but love divine
Could Thee constrain to open thus
That sacred heart of Thine?

O wondrous Fount of love,
O Well of waters free,
O heavenly Flame, refining Fire,
O burning Charity!

Hide us in Thy dear heart,
Jesu, our Savior blest,
So shall we find Thy plenteous grace
And Heav’n’s eternal rest.

Prayers for 6/22

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. John Fisher, Joseph Cafasso, Paulinus of Nola, and Thomas More.

For lawyers...

For all who hold public office...

For civil servants...

For adopted children, their natural parents, and the parents who took them as their own...

For families, especially large ones...

For James Baen, and for his family and friends...

For the intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 6/22

Father of All, to Thee

Father of all, to Thee
With loving hearts we pray,
Through Him, in mercy given,
The Life, the Truth, the Way;
From Heav’n, Thy throne, in mercy shed
Thy blessings on each bended head.

Father of all, to Thee
Our contrite hearts we raise,
Unstrung by sin and pain,
Long voiceless in Thy praise;
Breathe Thou the silent chords along,
Until they tremble into song.

Father of all, to Thee
We breathe unuttered fears,
Deep hidden in our souls,
That have no voice but tears;
Take Thou our hand, and through the wild
Lead gently each trustful child.

Father of all, may we
In praise our tongues employ,
When gladness fills the soul
With deep and hallowed joy;
In storm and calm give us to see
The path of peace which leads to Thee.

Prayers for 6/21

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Alban of Mainz, Aloysius Gonzaga, John Rigby, Raymond of Barbastro, and Terence.

For epileptics...

For hernia sufferers...

For those with renal problems...

For AIDS patients...

For the caregivers for all the illnesses mentioned...

For teenagers...

For the Jesuits, especially those in formation...

In thanksgiving for a personal intention...

For all intentions posted on Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 6/21

'Mid All the Traffic of the Ways

’Mid all the traffic of the ways,
Turmoils without, within,
Make in my heart a quiet place,
And come and dwell therein.

A little shrine of quietness,
All sacred to Thyself,
Where Thou shalt all my soul possess,
And I may find myself.

A little shelter from life’s stress,
Where I may lay me prone,
And bare my soul in loneliness,
And know as I am known.

A little place of mystic grace,
Of self and sin swept bare,
Where I may look upon Thy face,
And talk with Thee in prayer.