Prayer Guides

Take a breath. You are not alone.

Wherever you stand on the sidewalk, others have stood before you and will stand after. The work is bigger than any one moment. Your presence matters more than any words you say.

If the day is hard, that is enough. If the day is quiet, that is enough. You came.

Psalm 139:13-16 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance; in your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.

Isaiah 49:15-16 Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, or a woman the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name.

Father of all life,

You knit each of us together with love and called us by name before we were born. We come to this place today not in anger but in faithfulness, not to condemn but to bear witness, not to win an argument but to stand quietly where you have asked us to stand.

Protect the children whose lives hang in the balance today. Hold the mothers who feel they have no other option. Soften the hearts of fathers who have walked away. Bless the doctors, nurses, and staff with the courage to choose life. Give us, your people on the sidewalk, the grace to be present.

Where there is fear, send peace. Where there is loneliness, send love. Where there is death, send life.

In the name of the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life,

Amen.

If you have no words today, your presence is enough.

Stand. Breathe. Offer.

Some days the heart is too tired to pray. Some days the words feel hollow. Some days you forget what you came to ask for. That is not failure. That is faithfulness.

The witness of your body on the sidewalk - quiet, peaceful, prayerful - is itself the prayer. God reads it. The people passing by read it. You do not need to say a word for it to matter.

Stay as long as you can. Leave when you must. Come back tomorrow.

Saint 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, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Our Father, Author of Life, Thank You for the gift of life.

Word of God, through Whom all things were made, Thank You for the gift of life.

Holy Spirit, hovering over the waters of Creation, Thank You for the gift of life.

Jesus, Your coming was announced by an angel,

• BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, conceived in love by God’s Spirit and the Virgin Mary, * BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, beloved son of a humble carpenter,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, source of immeasurable joy for Mary and Joseph,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, the aging Elizabeth rejoiced in Your presence,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, You filled the unborn Baptist with gladness,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, Mary’s soul mirrors this gift of Divinity,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, because of You all generations call Mary blessed,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, one month in the womb and Your tiny heart beat for love,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, another month passed and Your mouth and hands were wonderfully formed,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, that mouth would tell the glory of God,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, those hands were fashioned to be pierced for love,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, before birth You rested near Your mother’s faithful heart,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, grateful to those who assisted Your mother during pregnancy,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, teaching us; whatever we do to the least of Your brothers and sisters, we do to You,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, Your birth was a joyful revelation to humanity,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, days after that nativity, a fearful king planned to kill You,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Jesus, countless infants were slaughtered in Your place,* BLESS THE UNBORN AND THEIR PARENTS.

Lord, thank You for first coming among us as the Unborn Christ Child. Today, untold numbers of our tiny sisters and brothers have been abandoned by the world’s leaders, by the traditional defenders of justice, by the healing professions and even by their own parents. But You are their Savior – You have not forgotten them. Savior, rescue and protect these little ones from the neglect and violence of an uncaring world.

Merciful Lord, Your tiny infant heart, which was later emptied on the cross, offers this world it’s only hope. Forgive us our sins against the unborn, against their parents and against all Your children. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Prince of Peace, through Your healing Spirit, help us to lovingly accept every conceived child created in Your image and likeness, as a messenger of peace and goodwill towards all people.

Amen.

Let us meditate on the Hidden Lord, in the Womb of the Virgin, in the Gospels and in the Eucharist.

The Hidden God.

“He was hidden in the womb of His Mother; all through His life and death on earth, His Divinity was hidden except to a very few; in His Eucharistic life He will hide Himself to the end of time in the little Host.

He seemed to love hiding when He was on earth and when He did reveal Himself, it was something like a child playing at hide and seek.

He hid Himself from the Samaritan woman till He had heard all her story and then said suddenly : “I am He (the Messias) Who am speaking with thee” (St. John. iv. 26).

The blind man whom He cured had not the least idea Who He was till JESUS, hearing that he had been reviled and cast out of the Synagogue, went and talked to him about the Son of God and then said in the middle of the conversation: Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee” (chap. ix. 37).

From Mary Magdalene at the sepulcher He deliberately hid Himself under the form of a gardener that He might have the joy of suddenly surprising her with His presence.

Perhaps the most touching story of all is that of the two disciples going to Emmaus ; out of His very love for them, He blindfolded them and then made them look for Him, while He put them off the scent by pretending that He knew nothing about all the things that had been happening in Jerusalem ; and then when His moment was come their eyes were opened and they knew Him.” (St. Luke xxiv. 31).

He treats His children in the same way still, He constantly hides Himself from them, leaves them alone to fight and struggle in desolation, solitude and spiritual darkness, and then sometimes shows by His sudden presence how near He has been all the time.” -Mother St. Paul , Ortus Christi, 1921

Unborn Jesus, God and Lord, in the Womb of Mary, in the Hidden Gospels and in the Eucharist, we ask that You help us, in our Faith and help all those who do not believe and do not trust in You.

Help that mother to be, who is thinking of abortion.

And we pray for the Holy Souls of Purgatory.

Mysteries by day:

• Sunday - Glorious
• Monday - Joyful
• Tuesday - Sorrowful
• Wednesday - Glorious
• Thursday - Luminous
• Friday - Sorrowful
• Saturday - Joyful

Begin with the Sign of the Cross, the Apostles' Creed, the Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be. Then for each mystery: announce the mystery, pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer. Conclude with the Hail Holy Queen.

Offer this Rosary for the conversion of hearts, for the protection of the unborn, for the healing of mothers and fathers, and for the sanctification of all who pass by today.

Pray on standard Rosary beads.

Opening: Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles' Creed.

On the large bead before each decade: "Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world."

On the ten small beads of each decade: "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Repeat for five decades.

Closing (three times): "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world."