Teach Us To Pray – Page 7 – Smitten With Goodness

All Saints’ Day

November 1, 2024October 31, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

Today we celebrate a significant feast in the Catholic Church dedicated to honoring all the saints, both known and unknown, who have attained heaven. This solemnity acknowledges the “great cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:1, celebrating the lives of those who have faithfully followed Christ. We are all called to be saints and Smitten with Goodness. If you are looking for someone to walk alongside you in your faith journey, let me know. On this Fourth Anniversary of this blog, let’s remember and pray for all the faithful departed, reflecting on the communion of saints and the hope of eternal life.

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today with grateful hearts, celebrating the feast of All Saints. We honor all the saints, both known and unknown, who have faithfully followed Your will and now rejoice in Your presence in heaven.

Lord, we thank You for their example of holiness and dedication. May their lives inspire us to live with the same fervor and commitment to Your teachings. Help us to strive for sainthood in our own lives, seeking to love and serve You with all our hearts.

We pray for the strength to follow in their footsteps, to be courageous in our faith, and to trust in Your divine plan. As we remember the communion of saints, we ask for their intercession, that we may grow in virtue and grace.

On this special day, we also remember and pray for all the faithful departed. Grant them eternal rest and let perpetual light shine upon them. May we all be united in Your love, looking forward to the day when we will join the saints in heaven.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.

Amen.

Teach Us To Pray

Happy All Hallows’ Eve

October 31, 2024October 25, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

All Hallows’ Eve, commonly known as Halloween, has deep roots in Catholic tradition. The term “Halloween” is derived from “All Hallows’ Eve,” which is the vigil of All Saints’ Day, celebrated tomorrow. This day is dedicated to honoring all the saints in heaven, both known and unknown.

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Teach Us To Pray

Crowded With Gratitude

October 30, 2024October 25, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

Lord God,
Our hearts are crowded with gratitude
as we celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving.
We have come to this our feasting table
with great joy and eagerness,
for we are truly grateful to you, our God,
for all that we have been given.
We pause now and, in silent prayer,
do thank you for the great generosity of Your gifts.

We also thank one another for gifts –
especially for the gifts of love and affection
that we have freely shared.
We are thankful
for all who are present at this our feast
as well as for all those who have labored in love
in order to bring this dinner to our table.

May You, our God, bless this Thanksgiving feast
and all of us who shall share it
in your holy name.

– Edward Hays, Prayers for the Domestic Church

Teach Us To Pray

Everything, Everywhere

October 29, 2024October 25, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

Throughout our lives, we endeavor to see God and seek Him in our actions. Afterall, everything around us belongs to God. By observing God’s creation, we can see and respond to Him as we are part of this creation, along with our neighbors and even our enemies.

We strive to have a pure heart, and to follow God. We achieve this by recognizing the divine presence in those around us, continually seeking God’s face, and listening for His voice. Today, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of creation, rejoice in it, and praise God for revealing Himself to you.

God, creator of the world, you have given us all that is good. And caused the world to flourish. Open our eyes so that we may see the beauty of your kingdom and tend and protect it for generations to come.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Teach Us To Pray

Invasion of Grace

October 28, 2024October 25, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

How thankful are you for the divine presence in your life?

In Luke 5:1-11, we witness Jesus stepping into the fisherman’s boat uninvited, directly entering Simon’s life. Without hesitation, He begins giving instructions, first asking Simon to move away from the shore and then to venture into deeper waters. This act symbolizes the invasion of grace. The most crucial decision you will ever make is whether to cooperate with Jesus once He steps into your boat.

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Teach Us To Pray

Fulfillment

October 27, 2024October 25, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

There is nothing more fulfilling in life than deepening your relationship with God. Your desire to begin to pray or deepen your prayer life is one that comes from God himself.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18)

Thank you Lord for Your grace, drawing us to know your heart. Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Overflowing Gratitude

October 26, 2024October 25, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

A Litany of Gratitude
The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.

Mindful of the generosity of many, the prayers and labor of all in our midst, we offer these petitions to you Lord.

We give thanks for the generosity of many in our communities, who everyday share their gifts and talents with others:
To you, Lord, we give thanks.

We give thanks for a good harvest, for farmers and those who provide food in our long term care communities:
To you, Lord, we give thanks.

We give thanks for the opportunity to come together daily, to learn, share, and grow in a common ministry of peace and love.
To you, Lord, we give thanks.

We are mindful of the many lacking adequate food, proper clothing, safety and security around the world. May we give thanks for all those who work for justice in our communities and around the world.
To you, Lord, we give thanks.
Lord, we thank you for the bountiful love you show us and to all those dear to us, through your Son, Jesus, both now and forever.

Teach Us To Pray

Ungrateful

October 25, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

God has never stopped being good. We have just stopped being grateful.

God isn’t just a beacon of hope; He is the very essence of it. And He generously pours it out, desiring to fill us completely with joy and peace. The key? Trusting Him. It’s like presenting our empty cup – the more we trust, the more He fills it.

But it doesn’t end there. This promise assures us that we’ll be so filled with hope that it overflows, impacting everyone around us. The source of this abundant hope? The Holy Spirit working within us.

Lord, no matter where I find myself or what I am facing, make me remember by trusting in You my reservoir of hope can always be replenished. Let Your hope overflow in my life, consuming me with gratitude. Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Gratitude Prayer

October 24, 2024October 19, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

Novena of Gratitude – Day 9

Lord God, we do not always remember to thank You as we ought for all You have done for us and given us. We praise You for Your goodness and offer our prayers of thanksgiving to You today for all You have done for us and given us.

You suffered so much for us in Your Passion and Death on the Cross. Your sacrifice was done solely out of love for us, and we owe You a debt we can never repay. We should always remember to be thankful to You for saving us from sin.

We thank You for all of Your blessings, and we particularly thank You today for Your suffering and death on the Cross!

Help us to love You more and more each day. Help us to do all we can to serve You more faithfully in our lives.

And I especially pray in this novena (mention your intentions here).

Lord, hear our prayers!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Learn more at Pray More Novenas

Teach Us To Pray

Gratitude Prayer

October 23, 2024October 19, 2024 Smitten With Goodness

Novena of Gratitude – Day 8

We do not always know what is best for ourselves in our lives. But You always provide for us in all circumstances, even when we do not ask You for what we truly need. Your continual providence sustains us through all things.

We thank You for all of Your blessings, and we particularly thank You today for Your loving providence for us!

Help us to trust You more deeply each day of our lives. Help us to grow in every virtue we need to become truly holy.

And I especially pray in this novena (mention your intentions here).

Lord, hear our prayers!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Learn more at Pray More Novenas