Prayers that Keep Me Anchored

One of our faithful Father of St. Joseph group facilitators in Ireland asked me to provide some prayers that are…well…not as verbose as the ones I have written.
Prayers that are easier to remember and memorize, and consequently, easier to pray in time of need, emergency, or as an act of love, reverence and, when directed to God, worship.

Full disclosure: I failed to provide them.
The other day he emailed me regarding our latest Way of a Man blog post and kindly reminded me of my procrastination.

For that reason, I am providing several prayers that keep me anchored in my spirituality as a Father of St. Joseph, while also keeping me close to not only St. Joseph, but also our Blessed Mother and ultimately Our Lord Jesus and God the Father.

Let me know if these help you.

Imitation of Christ
I always pray this prayer, or an altered form of it, prior to meditation on the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ. The intent of my prayer is twofold: to know Jesus and to become like Him.

“Lord Jesus, reveal yourself to me; Your character; Your desires; Your holy will. That I may know you, love you, and become like you. Veni Sancti Spiritu.”

The Surrender Prayer

“Abba, Father, thy will, not mine be done. Into thy hands I commend my soul.”

Burn Thy Image Into Me

“Lord Jesus, burn your image into me that it is no longer I who lives but You who live in me.”

To You All Glory

“All glory, blessing, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might be to You Son of God, God the Son, the Alpha, the Omega, my Savior, the desire of my heart.”

The Consecration Prayer

“Holy Mary, good St. Joseph, my parents in the order of grace, do for me as you did for Jesus: Consecrate me to God the Father, that through Jesus, with Jesus, and in Jesus I may become holy, set apart for God and His sacred mission.”

That I Be Another Christ

“Holy Mary my Mother, St. Joseph my spiritual father, by your union of wills and your holy intercession, obtain for me the Holy Spirit, that God would conceive in me, ever anew, ever more fully, Jesus Christ, True God, True Man, that I may become the son, the man , the husband, the father, and leader that God has called and destined me to be.”

May I Be Like You St. Joseph

“St. Joseph, gentle and generous, make me like unto thee—silent, strong, hidden and humble.”

St. Joseph Lead This Ass

“St. Joseph, lead this ass of a man who carries Jesus and Mary through this land of exile, to wherever the Heavenly Father wishes.”

Thanksgiving

This prayer was developed with the idea that most people thank God for many “things” but rarely thank Him, precisely for Him—or for us (not just our life – but ourselves).

“Thank you, God, for You. Thank you, God, for me. For without me I could not worship You. And without You I would worship myself.”

Attributed to St. Philip Neri:

I have prayed this when I am grieved or tempted.

“Lord, watch out for (insert your first name) lest he betray you.”

Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo’s prayer to Our Lady

This is one of the prayers I pray most often.

“Mother, I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you, I want to belong always and only to Jesus.”

St. Charles de Foucauld’s Prayer of Abandonment

At the recommendation of a priest, I began praying this as part of my morning prayer routine…it is now my favorite prayer.

“Father, I abandon myself into your hands, do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me and in all your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Amen.”

Prayer Before Meeting With Someone

“Come Holy Spirit. Be present in me and in the other. Let not the devil, or even myself come between me and the person I am about to meet with. Unite us in You. Amen.”

Prayer Before Speaking or Presenting

“Lord Jesus that they may see You and not me; that they may hear You and not me; that they may feel You and not me. All glory to Thee.”

After Receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist

“Lord Jesus, I kiss Thy feet fixed to the wood of the Cross.
Allow me to follow your steps, without stumbling into sin, selfishness, and self-idolatry.

Lord Jesus, I kiss your hands pierced through and fixed to the wood of the Cross.
Allow my hands to be an extension of Yours, giving and healing, without grasping, using another, or objectifying another.

Lord Jesus, I kiss your head crowned with thorns.
Allow me to use the authority You have imparted to me to be an extension of Yours.
May I lead by loving, and love by leading.
May I use my authority to serve and sacrifice.

Lord Jesus, I kiss your side, that after receiving Your Living Water, I may share that living water with others, and after they have tasted it, they may return to you, the fount of Life and Love. Amen.”